Base Titanium scholarships give Kwale students hope

Naima Hilal worked hard in school and scored a mean grade of C+ in her 2013 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams at Matuga Girls High School in Kwale County.

While the performance guaranteed her a chance for university education, the biggest hurdle that awaited the 23-year-old girl from Wasini Island was money for her fees.

“My parents are poor and that alone was enough to have me stay at home even though I had performed well in school.

“In Wasini, the poverty levels are very high and it is difficult to make any breakthrough in education, especially when one gets the chance to go to university,” she said during an interview at the Base Titanium scholarship offices in Kwale.

BENEFICIARY

She was among a group of beneficiaries who have been sponsored by the Maumba-based firm to continue with their studies.

Last Thursday, she was among the beneficiaries who had lined up at the offices to present their academic records and fees requirements in order to get scholarships.

After spending a year in the cold and not knowing exactly what to do, in 2015, her aunt alerted her of an advert for bursary for all bright and needy students from Kwale.

“I immediately, applied and was called for an interview at the company offices. After listening to my presentation, the company gave me a four-year scholarship,” she said.

EMPOWER CHILDREN

The university student, who will be joining the 4th year in September, said her vision is to empower more children from Wasini to aim higher in education so as to remove them from the shackles of poverty.

“I am currently the vice chairperson of the Wasini Education Trust Fund, an initiative that sensitises locals on the importance of education,” said the Bachelor of Education (Arts) student at the Kenyatta University’s main campus in Nairobi.

Ali Omar from Bongwe/Gombato, 32, currently a 2nd year Bachelor of Science (Education) student at Pwani University, had to defer his studies because he had no fees to pay for his education.

“I would have been a third year student but because I had no means, I deferred studies and stayed home until I heard about the scholarships offered by Base Titanium. I applied and was called for an interview.

“I thank God that I was put on a full scholarship and the company has since been paying my fees,” he said.

TOUGH LIFE

Mr Ali, who has been working as a teacher at a local secondary school, said life was tough for him and his siblings and the little cash he gets from his teaching job does little in assisting his family.

“Since I was enrolled in the scholarship programme, I have been able to pursue my studies without any hitches,” he said.

“I have started Shaffia community upgraded school at Jambo for children as I want to bring change in education in Bongwe,” he said.

Speaking to journalists, 28-year-old Bakari Njemo, one of the beneficiaries, said his hopes of getting good education and empowering his community had dimmed until he was also enrolled in the scholarship programme.

REPEATED SCHOOL

“I first did my KCSE exams in 2008 at Shimba Hills High School and scored a mean grade of C+ but because I had no fees, I stayed out for two years and then decided to return to class at Kaya Tiwi Secondary School where I scored a mean grade of B-minus in the 2011 KCSE exam,” he said.

In 2012, he applied for a scholarship from the company and was among the lucky ones who were enrolled.

“I am currently a 4th year student at Kenyatta University (KU), Mombasa campus, taking a Bachelor of Education degree and specialising in math and science.

IMPROVE LIVES

He hopes to ensure youths in Kinondo take their education seriously as it is the key to better lives.

“I am struggling so that I can be a role model to the youths in Kinondo. Once I am through with my education, I will come back to the community and especially to my peers. I have to tell them the importance of education in today’s world,” he said.

The scholarship programme has also elicited the hopes of 25-year old Ibrahim Amir from Kinondo Location, currently studying math and physics at the KU Mombasa campus.

“The programme has assisted me since I could not afford fees due to the tough economic situation in the village.

“I managed to get a C+ in 2013 at Shimba Hills Secondary School but I had to stay at home until I benefited from the 2015-2016 scholarship programme,” said Mr Amir.

Growing up in Tsimba-Golini village in Kwale, life was tough for 26-year-old Nrika Rika.

POVERTY

The poverty levels in the village affected her education and when she sat the 2013 KCSE exam at Kaya Tiwi, she scored a mean grade of D+.

“I repeated in the same school and in the 2014 exams, I scored a C+. In 2015, I saw an advertisement about scholarships that had been pinned at the Matuga MP’s office.

“I decided to apply and to my surprise, I was called for interview and later on enrolled in the scholarship programme,” she said.

Nrika is now a 4th year student at Pwani University in Kilifi taking a bachelor of education degree.

“My vision is to have many girls get education in Tsimba where there have been cases of early marriages and [teenage] pregnancies. I want to change that scenario and bring a picture of hope and prosperity for my peers,” she said during the interview.

400 SCHOLARSHIPS

Base Titanium Community Relations Manager Pius Kassim said the firm recently awarded 400 new scholarships to students from Kwale County and Likoni Sub-County joining Form one.

Students who scored 300 marks and above in their KCPE exams and attending a government school were eligible.

“All the successful students are supported for the duration of their secondary school studies and following this latest intake of scholarship beneficiaries, the company now supports close to 1,500 students,” said Mr Kasim.

STAKEHOLDERS

He said the firm is working closely with the Kwale County government and other stakeholders to actualise the programme, which he said is a key component of the firm’s community development programmes.

“Investing in Kwale’s youth is a cornerstone of the company’s community development programmes and by supporting Kwale’s youth to complete their secondary school education we are better preparing them for future opportunities,” Mr Kassim said.

Out of the 400 Students who were recently awarded scholarships, 200 are from Msambweni, 60 from Likoni Sub-County, 60 from Matuga Constituency, 60 from Lunga Lunga Constituency and 20 from Kinango Constituency.