Eastern Produce Kenya (EPK), a tea company in Nandi County, has onboarded the first cohort of senior school learners from humble backgrounds into their education scholarship programme.
The initiative is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as well as taking part in supporting the government programme of ensuring 100 per cent transition to senior school.
EPK company is now offering full scholarships to a total of 10 students, among them seven in the 8-4-4 system of education, who are currently in Form 3, as well as three from the Competence-Based Education system in Senior school.
Speaking while launching the beneficiary mentorship programme at Nandi Bears Club in Nandi Hills, the company Operations Manager Noel Smith divulged that they were committed to offering support to access quality education, adding that education is the only equaliser.
Smith observed that the company thoroughly scrutinises to identify learners who are in need of a scholarship to ensure fairness in their selection before offering any scholarship, adding that as a company they value education, hence the reason for empowering the surrounding community.
Apart from the school fee scholarship, the company also offers their scholarship beneficiaries shopping and transport to and from school to ensure the learners concentrate fully on their studies without any setbacks that might interfere with their academic excellence.
“Education is the greatest equaliser. Our programme at EPK seeks to give access to high-quality education. The first cohort of our scholarship beneficiaries is in form three and will graduate in 2027, whereas the second cohort is the one in senior school,” divulged Smith, adding that as a company they cultivate quality in everything they do.
The manager further challenged the beneficiaries to utilise the golden opportunity and work extra hard to excel in their studies and brighten their future, thus changing their communities in the future.
Nandi County Director of Education Harrison Muriuki lauded EPK tea company for their unwavering support, calling on parents whose children have benefitted from this bursary not to relax, but instead work towards supporting the other siblings and even start saving for their university education.
Muriuki urged parents to take good care of their children this holiday period while inculcating discipline as a way of moulding the character of their children even when at school.
On his part, Chepkunyuk Ward Member of County Assembly (MCA) John Keter commended EPK for their services to the surrounding community, highlighting the various infrastructures they have built for the various local schools and also the buying of education materials and necessary equipment for the learners.
Keter further said discipline should begin at home, challenging parents to ensure they instil good character in their children to make it easier for teachers at school.
“I want to congratulate the beneficiaries for being awarded scholarships by EPK. Count this as a privilege and work tirelessly towards achieving your goals,” he said.
By Ruth Mainye
