By Brenda Odhiambo

Benching for Education, championed by Anoon Bul Aguer Kuir, a Mastercard Foundation Scholar from South Sudan, started as a community-driven initiative seeking to provide durable and comfortable benches to the students in Kings Secondary School. The challenge of insufficient seating facilities impeded the learning experience at the school, posing a challenge for both students and educators. Through collaboration with the community, the project aimed to enhance the learning environment, promote student well-being, and advance the school's mission of providing quality education.

Anoon, a third-year student in the Bachelor of International Relations program at USIU-Africa, firmly believes that education is the key to empowerment, and that every student deserves a comfortable space to learn and grow. Through the project, which ran from October 14 to 20, 2023, she was able to put her belief in action by providing the school with 10 weather-resistant benches.

These benches, strategically placed in classrooms, study areas, and outdoor spaces, greatly improved the students’ well-being, as they no longer had to sit on the ground or on makeshift seating. Designed to withstand adverse weather conditions and to accommodate varying age groups, the benches have benefited 30 students, with each bench designed to seat three students.

Anoon credits Mr. Alier Abraham, the school’s Managing Director and Mr. Matiop Kuol, the Principal, for their leadership during the implementation of the project.

“Their strategic guidance, commitment to educational excellence, and enthusiasm for creating an optimal learning environment were instrumental in steering the project toward success. Their vision and collaborative spirit laid the foundation for a transformative initiative, which seeks to address the fourth Sustainable Development Goal of providing quality education,” Anoon says.

The project has had a profound impact on students at the school, with students reporting improved comfort during classes and breaks due to the availability of benches. This has positively impacted their well-being, reducing the physical strain and discomfort associated with inadequate seating.

The provision of proper seating has contributed to increased academic engagement. Students are now more focused and participative in classroom activities, leading to potential improvements in academic performance. The project has also instilled a sense of dignity and equality among students. Access to uniform and comfortable seating ensures that every student, regardless of background, has an equal opportunity to learn in a conducive environment.

At the community level, Anoon notes that the project has fostered a sense of community engagement. Parents and members of the community, observing the positive changes in the school environment, are more likely to be involved in school activities, promoting a collaborative educational atmosphere.

“The success of the Benching for Education Project has inspired discussions about addressing other infrastructure challenges in the community. It has sparked conversations about potential future initiatives to improve the overall educational experience further by providing the students with computers, school buses, and additional classroom facilities,” she says.

With recommendations for continuous monitoring and expansion of the initiative, the Benching for Education Project is poised to inspire future interventions that will bring about transformative change not only at Kings Secondary School, but across South Sudan.

By Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa

Hannah Nyamal
Hannah Nyamal was born in South Sudan. At the age of seven, Hannah and her sister were forced to flee due to instability in the country.

Hannah's brother-in-law, arranged for a humanitarian aircraft to fly them from South Sudan to Kenya. They landed in an unfamiliar place where they stayed for a week before finding their way to Kakuma Refugee Camp in North Western Kenya. Eventually, she and her family settled in a communal home in South-C, Nairobi, where they lived for ten years.
For a while, Hannah’s life was stable. Her brother-in-law had enough income that she could attend school. But when he passed away, Hannah's family was forced to move from South-C to a more affordable two-bedroom house in Umoja, where six of them stayed. Hannah’s sister started a small businesses and managed to support Hannah through high school.

Hannah learned about the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program through a WhatsApp group. She applied for and was accepted into the Program and is now studying a Bachelor Of Arts In International Relations at USIU-Africa.

On World Refugee Day, Hannah is calling on the world to recognize the value that refugee young people bring to the communities they migrate to. Refugees, she stresses, are people who have left their homes and belongings behind to start a new life in an unfamiliar country. They have different stories and experiences, and they deserve recognition and support.

“There is hope, this is a whole new chapter in my life that I never thought I had. My future is now secure and it can happen to any refugee. I started doing my internship in January this year and it has helped me travel back to my camp (Kakuma), give back and empower other refugees especially young girls.”

Ibrahim Yussuf
Ibrahim Yussuf, a Mastercard Foundation Scholar, knows firsthand the difficulties that refugees face when seeking asylum. Born in Somalia, Ibrahim's parents fled to Kenya during the country's civil war. Life in refugee camps was difficult, he shares, as security and access to basic needs such as food and water were constant challenges. Since the camp bordered Somalia, Somali refugees faced the threat of targeted terrorist attacks.

Fortunately, Ibrahim was able to attend school, complete his high-school education, and become a Mastercard Foundation Scholar, enabling him to leave the camps for the first time. He says becoming a Mastercard Foundation Scholar has increased his eagerness and ability to give back to his community. Ibrahim believes that refugees should not be defined by their circumstances but by their potential. He wants young refugees and host communities to know that forcibly displaced young people can become doctors, lawyers, and other professionals, given the right opportunities.

“It is important that refugees are provided with an education. This can prevent them from joining extremist groups in the camps. When refugees are given the chance to learn, they become empowered and more invested in their communities.”

Rebecca Ndinayo
For Rebecca Ndinayo, a refugee from Congo living in Kwangwali refugee camp, Uganda, higher education was a dream that seemed almost impossible.

Rebecca's family initially settled in a camp near Congo but as the war continued, UNHCR resettled them in Uganda. On a daily basis, Rebecca walked four kilometers to attend school. Her family was not allowed to own any property, which constrained opportunities.

Fortunately, Rebecca excelled academically. After completing high school in 2016, she and three friends started a school for refugees, which now has 600 students. However, due to financial constraints, Rebecca’s own education came to a standstill. Rebecca heard about the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program through COBURWAS International Youth Organization to Transform Africa (CIYOTA) – an NGO that coordinates accommodation for refugee students. She applied and was thrilled to be selected for an interview and later for the scholarship.

During her time as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar, Rebecca has built a library for the school she started in the refugee camp, which now has 84 books. On World Refugee Day, Rebecca’s call to all of us is: “Refugees are ordinary people and they can excel in life once given the opportunity, regardless of their experience. We are grateful to the partners who support refugees get an education and have an opportunity to change their lives.”

Loruba Manasseh
South Sudanese national, Loruba Manasseh spent much of his life growing up in Uganda. After high school, he secured a job with World Vision International.

Eventually, Loruba was awarded a scholarship from a charity, which allowed him to further his education. Later, a schoolmate from South Sudan Leadership Academy studying at Makerere University informed him of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. Loruba successfully applied to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa.

Loruba wants the world to recognize that refugees are real people who have lost everything through no fault of their own and have the same aspirations everyone does. During him time at a refugee camp, he saw a lot of young people marry early, or be lured into substance abuse due to a lack of opportunity and hope. Loruba aims to empower refugees to pursue their dreams and realize their potential. Outside the classroom, Loruba volunteers at a school during his holidays and supports his two sisters who are currently in school.

By Grace Makwaza

In the dynamic landscape of social impact and leadership, Lincoln Olatunji, a first year BA in International Relations student and Mastercard Foundation Scholar at USIU-Africa, emerges as a catalyst for change, particularly in rewriting the narrative of people with disabilities in Africa. His journey, marked by resilience, collaboration, and a commitment to empowerment, showcases the transformative power of leadership in creating tangible and lasting impact.

Olatunji's commitment to empowering people with disabilities is not a mere slogan but a lived reality. Through strategic partnerships with various organizations, he has spearheaded initiatives that have resulted in the donation of over 500 wheelchairs and crutches. This tangible support goes beyond charity; it represents a significant step toward providing individuals with the tools they need to lead more independent and fulfilling lives.

His accolades are a testament to his dedication to making a positive difference in the world. As the Founder and Executive Director of the Poverty and Disability Initiative in Nigeria, he has created a platform for sustainable change. His roles as a Resolution Project Fellow (after his initiative was selected as one of the winners of the 2023 Social Venture Challenge), Global Peace Ambassador, and Rotary Youth Leadership Ambassador, among others, underscore his global outlook and commitment to fostering positive change on an international scale.

For Olatunji, empowerment is not a buzzword but a comprehensive strategy. He believes in providing both knowledge and tangible resources to create lasting change. By emphasizing both aspects of empowerment, he recognizes the holistic nature of uplifting people. This approach reflects a profound understanding that true empowerment involves equipping individuals not only with skills and education but also with the physical resources needed to translate knowledge into tangible progress.

The Vision: Rewriting the Narrative of Persons with Disabilities

Olatunji's vision extends beyond immediate impact; he aspires to rewrite the narrative of people with disabilities in Africa. By focusing on empowerment and resource provision, he seeks to dismantle barriers and create opportunities for a demographic that has often been marginalized. Through his multifaceted approach, he aims to contribute to a narrative where people with disabilities are not defined by their challenges but empowered by their capabilities.

His academic endeavours align seamlessly with his advocacy goals. He envisions using policies as instruments to integrate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the lives of people with disabilities. By bridging academia with activism, he aims to influence systemic change that addresses the unique challenges faced by this community.

Olatunji's story is not just about rhetoric but about tangible actions that are rewriting the narrative for people with disabilities in Africa. Through his leadership, advocacy, and commitment to empowerment, he exemplifies a new breed of leaders who bring about meaningful change in their communities. As he continues his academic and advocacy journey, he stands as a beacon of hope for a more inclusive and empowered future for all.

For those inspired by his vision and seeking collaboration, Olatunji is accessible on LinkedIn. His profile provides a glimpse into his journey, achievements, and ongoing initiatives.

By Brenda Odhiambo

In the bustling city of Juba, a critical issue hampers the pursuit of education for secondary school students—lack of reliable transportation. Inspired by the pressing need for a solution, Dudi Nyok Luat, a second year International Business Administration student and a Mastercard Foundation Scholar at USIU-Africa embarked on an entrepreneurial journey that led to the creation of the Unitymovers Initiative.

The Unitymovers Initiative was established based on the realization that most high schools in Juba heavily rely on inconsistent and unsafe public transportation, hindering students' access to education. This not only poses safety concerns but also acts as a barrier to quality education, especially for those from low-income backgrounds.

The Initiative aims to bridge this gap by providing a fast, reliable, exclusive, and sustainable transportation solution tailored to the unique needs of high school students. Unitymovers’ mission, encapsulated in the tagline "Ride to Knowledge with Ease," focuses on facilitating safe and convenient transportation options, ensuring students can access educational opportunities without hindrances. Additionally, by offering reliable and sustainable transportation, Unitymovers contributes to reduced traffic congestion and environmental benefits.

Luat notes that Unitymovers’ journey reached a significant milestone when he applied to the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship, where he was one of the finalists who took part in the final Pitch Competition held on Thursday, August 24, 2023.

“My passion for making a positive impact in my community and beyond drove me to apply for the Fellowship. Witnessing the challenges faced by students in Juba due to inadequate transportation fueled my commitment to finding a solution. The Fellowship provided an ideal platform to transform my concept into a viable venture,” he says.

“This experience was not just about seeking funding but a transformative learning opportunity. It equipped me with the skills and knowledge necessary to turn Unitymovers into a practical, impactful venture. Participating in the Fellowship refined my entrepreneurial skills and expanded my perspective on project development, funding, and the importance of networking and mentorship. I emerged from the experience as a more resilient, knowledgeable, and effective entrepreneur,” he adds.

Luat is committed to making use of the knowledge and skills gained through the Fellowship to address real-world challenges and make a positive impact on society through the continued development and growth of the Unitymovers Initiative. He hopes to be a catalyst for change in his community, contributing to education, sustainability, and community development.

As a testament to the impactful experience he had during his time in the Fellowship, Luat has been selected as one of the mentors for the 2024 Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship.

“This opportunity allows me to pay it forward, becoming a catalyst for change by nurturing and guiding young entrepreneurs, just as I have been supported and guided on my own journey. Unitymovers represents not only a solution to a pressing issue but a commitment to creating a more educated and empowered generation that will positively impact communities and society at large,” he notes.

The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship is an 8-month program designed to cultivate exceptional entrepreneurial skillsets and mindsets. It empowers emerging leaders to drive both social and financial impact through their ventures. The Fellowship is committed to nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit in African students and recent graduates, fostering innovation, and creating a positive change in the world.

By Brenda Odhiambo
With a vision to empower local youth through sustainable poultry farming, Lydia Okwir, a Ugandan Mastercard Foundation Scholar at USIU-Africa and a third-year student in the Bachelor of Pharmacy program, set out to implement the Atomoro Youth Network and Development Project in Amolatar District in Northern Uganda.

The project, which was initiated in 2019, aims to empower 25 youth (13 women and 12 men), by providing essential training and resources for sustainable poultry farming. The community faces economic challenges and adherence to traditional gender roles that hinder growth, especially for women. With the majority of young people unable to access higher education opportunities, Lydia's project seeks to create a platform for inclusive poultry farming, providing an avenue for self-reliance and socio-economic growth.

“In Northern Uganda, particularly in my community, 95% of the young men and women have not attended higher institutions of learning. Most of them only managed to go to primary schools, because Amolatar's fishing culture diverted the focus of local youth and their parents, leaving them unconcerned about their future prospects. Many youth in the area have abandoned their studies due to financial constraints, with many girls also dropping out of school due to teenage pregnancies. With the recent government restrictions on fishing in Uganda, many have been left facing dire economic situations,” Lydia explains.

The project addressed these challenges by providing a platform for the community and the identified beneficiaries to learn more about poultry farming, which in turn will help them establish a sustainable, thriving enterprise that will change their economic fortunes,” she adds.

Through the project, Lydia was able to secure essential equipment, including feeders, egg incubators, and a solar panel. The equipment supported the transition from one-day-old chicks to one-month-old chicks, a shift that will strengthen the project’s production and sustainability, as the chicks will mature to eventually support the production of both eggs and meat for sale.

Acen Racheal, a beneficiary of the project, attests to the transformative impact during the project implementation. As a young single mother and orphan raising her three-year-old daughter, she faced immense challenges. Racheal recalls a period of hopelessness when she worked on others' farms to secure food for herself and her child, often going to bed on an empty stomach during periods without farm work.

“Joining the youth group marked a turning point in our lives. The various agricultural training sessions provided by the group not only equipped me with valuable skills but also enabled me to diversify my income streams. I now cultivate tomatoes for sale, which ensures that my daughter can go to school,” she says.

The project impact has been felt on both the individual and communal levels. At the individual level, beneficiaries experienced improved livelihoods and increased confidence. The newfound financial independence positively influenced the entire community's economic dynamics. At the community level, poultry-related income-generating activities created a more resilient local economy. Knowledge sharing and collaboration have flourished, contributing to a more knowledgeable and interconnected community. Food security has also improved through the availability of poultry products, enhancing the community’s overall health and well-being.

By Brenda Odhiambo

For International Women’s Day, we spoke to Marie-Paule Wauters, a Mastercard Foundation Scholar at USIU-Africa and a third-year student pursuing a degree in International Business Administration. She shares more about her journey and the impactful initiatives she has spearheaded to uplift women in her community.

Marie-Paule was born and raised in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Her journey towards impactful entrepreneurship began at Shaumba Girls’ High School, where she discovered a passion for education and entrepreneurship, despite pursuing science subjects. During this time, she actively participated in various training courses on leadership, entrepreneurship, education, empowerment, and social change, while also volunteering in several NGO initiatives.

After graduating from high school in 2017, Marie-Paule was awarded a scholarship to the African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg, South Africa, where she studied entrepreneurial leadership. This experience further fueled her desire for education, entrepreneurship, and women's empowerment. Following her graduation in 2019, she dedicated her gap year to training her community, high school students (including those from her prior school), and young women in a village high school on entrepreneurship. This hands-on experience solidified her commitment to creating meaningful change.

In 2021, she joined USIU-Africa as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar, where she is currently in her third year. She notes that the program has further expanded her knowledge through intensive training in transformational leadership and entrepreneurship.

Marie-Paule's dedication to empowering women in the DRC is deeply personal, shaped by her mother's resilience and the struggles of women in her community. Raised by a widowed mother who supported their family through an informal business, Marie-Paule witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by women in similar circumstances.

“I watched my mother work tirelessly to raise my siblings and I by selling cleaning products. Despite being in a resource-limited environment and lacking knowledge of entrepreneurship and business management, she ran her business as best as she could. Initially, her business thrived, and she always strived to provide us with the best. However, it eventually started declining due to various reasons, such as a lack of legal documents, limited information on business processes, failure to fully meet the population's needs, and not using the correct tools. These challenges had significant financial implications for our family,” she says.

"My mother's experience became the cornerstone of my inspiration, fueling my desire to create meaningful change by bridging the gap between knowledge and informal jobs in my community. Countless women in our community face similar challenges, and even more, which leaves them financially insecure, given that in many cases, they also have the burden of sole responsibility for their families,” she adds.

Addressing key challenges faced by women in informal businesses
Marie-Paule identifies several challenges faced by women engaged in informal businesses in the DRC, including limited access to resources, gender-based discrimination, lack of education and skills, social and cultural barriers, and financial insecurity. To tackle these challenges, she initiated the SHUJA program, focusing on comprehensive business training, access to financial resources, and building confidence among women entrepreneurs.

"Through SHUJA, we provided women with tailored business training programs in Lingala, our local language, equipping them with essential skills in business planning, financial management, marketing, and product development,” she says. “Additionally, the program facilitated access to microfinance services and savings programs, empowering women to start and grow their businesses,” she adds.

Marie-Paule's community-driven initiatives have yielded remarkable success stories, demonstrating the transformative impact of empowerment.

“We have witnessed remarkable transformations among the women who took part in the program. One of the participants, Mama Yvette, was able to launch a small-scale catering business after completing the business training program. Despite the initial challenges, she persevered and was able to gradually expand her clientele. Another participant, Mama Bibi, who initially worked alone was able to employ someone to make donuts for her business, which has greatly improved her sales per day. These success stories have inspired other women to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams,” she notes.
Empowering women in informal businesses not only stimulates economic growth but also fosters greater gender equality and social cohesion within communities. Marie-Paule emphasizes, "By providing women with tools and resources to succeed, we create engines of local commerce, generating income and improving living standards."

For Marie-Paule, empowering women in informal businesses has a multifaceted impact on the broader community and economy in DRC. More than 70% of women in the DRC are in informal sector and less are educated or have access to education.

“By providing women with tools and resources to start and grow their businesses, we stimulate economic growth at the grassroots level. These women become engines of local commerce, creating jobs, generating income, and contributing to the overall prosperity of their communities. Moreover, empowered women often invest a significant portion of their earnings in their families' well-being, leading to improved healthcare, education, and living standards. This effect of empowerment not only fosters socio-economic development but also fosters greater gender equality and social cohesion within communities,” she says.

In resource-constrained settings like the DRC, Marie-Paule advocates for a combination of education, skills training, access to resources, and advocacy for policy reforms to promote gender equality and women's empowerment. She emphasizes the importance of economic empowerment and targeted interventions to address cultural and social barriers.

As we celebrate International Women's Day, Marie-Paule shares a message of resilience, solidarity, and hope to women around the world facing similar challenges. She encourages women to persevere, support one another, and seize opportunities for education and empowerment, envisioning a more just and inclusive world where every woman has the opportunity to thrive.

Looking ahead, Marie-Paule's aspirations for the future of women's empowerment in the DRC include expanding SHUJA’s initiatives to reach more women in rural and marginalized communities, investing in education, and creating opportunities for women to participate in decision-making processes. Her vision is to create a society where every woman has the power and agency to shape her own destiny and contribute to the collective prosperity of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

By Brenda Odhiambo
In #Rwanda's Nyamasheke District, located in Bushekeri Sector, a project led by Esther Mukabyiringiro, a Mastercard Foundation Scholar in her second year in the Bachelor of Pharmacy Program at USIU-Africa, has made a significant impact empowering 20 single mothers facing social and economic barriers.

The project, which ran from December 19, 2023 to January 3, 2024 was designed to address nutritional challenges and limited crop yield faced by these single mothers through the provision of 10 dairy goats to provide a sustainable source of essential nutrients. This was complemented by comprehensive agricultural training to combat crop yield issues by providing knowledge on enhanced farming practices, contributing to food security and economic stability.

Beyond its immediate benefits, the project also aimed to empower these mothers with the skills and resources necessary for their long-term economic independence, aligned with key Sustainable Development Goals, namely No Poverty (Goal 1), Zero Hunger (Goal 2), and Good Health and Well-being (Goal 3).

The project yielded significant milestones, directly benefiting a cooperative of 20 single mothers, who received 10 vaccinated dairy goats, addressing both their nutritional needs and income generation. Training sessions on preparation of a balanced diet and crop cultivation extended the project's impact to families, including children and dependents, creating a positive ripple effect in the broader community.

Partnerships were pivotal in ensuring the project’s success. In collaboration with the local cooperative and Bushekeri Sector leaders, Esther facilitated a needs assessment, guaranteeing community involvement and ownership. Local agricultural experts and trainers were also consulted to impart valuable knowledge during the agricultural training sessions.

“The project partner, Bushekeri Sector, played a crucial role in providing a training venue, emphasizing their commitment to community development. They noted the positive impact of the project on the skills and knowledge acquisition of the beneficiaries. The collaboration between the project and the Sector set a successful model for future partnerships in addressing community challenges,” Esther notes.

Despite the project’s success, Esther encountered challenges during implementation. Some beneficiaries faced literacy issues, which posed communication barriers during training. Other beneficiaries had no access to phones, which meant that Esther had to withdraw money to provide transport funds for them to attend the training in person, as the lack of phones meant no access to mobile money services. Budgetary adjustments were also made to ensure the availability of adequate funds for transportation.

To ensure sustained impact, the project will continue to provide continuous skill enhancement programs, ongoing community engagement, and a robust monitoring and evaluation system. Esther envisions that the project could be replicated in similar areas to address literacy challenges through dedicated programs that can further enhance its long-term impact.

“Through the implementation of the project, I have learned the importance of communication, flexibility, collaboration, negotiation, and patience. These skills emerged as crucial factors for the success of any activity, underscoring the dynamic nature of community projects,” she says.

Nicodemus Kilunda joins other members of the University community to develop a Disability Policy at USIU-Africa

Nicodemus Kilunda, a Sophomore in the Chandaria School of Business and a beneficiary of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa was among the selected stakeholders who took part in the development of USIU-Africa’s Disability Policy.

The Disability Policy will work towards ensuring an inclusive environment and quality provisions for Persons with Disabilities, and other Special Needs (PWD’s & SN) which will ensure the university progressively makes adjustments and accommodations for PWDs and ensure students access quality education and services across the campus setting.

The Taskforce Committee comprised 11 of members drawn from across different members of the university community including Faculty, Staff and Students and were tasked with the responsibility to propose recommendations for amendments to ensure inclusion and compliance.

Hezborn Muiru to represent USIU-Africa in the Blind Football Championships 2022 in Morocco

Hezborn Muiru recently participated in the National Trials for the visually impaired for the national football team organized by the Kenya Sports Association and was selected to join the team as a striker.

The team will represent Kenya in Rabat, Morocco from September 14-26. The event was graced by long distance runner and 5,000 & 10,000-meters champion and Paralympian, Mr. Henry Wanyoike, who supported the players during the selection.

Hezborn joined the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa in September 2021 and is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations. He expressed his joy at landing the once in a lifetime opportunity, stating: “This is a dream come true for me. I love football and I get to play my favorite sport.”

We wish Hezborn all the best as he flies the Kenyan and USIU-Africa flags high.

By Taigu Muchiri and Tonya Reid

Globally, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities is observed on December 3 to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities at all levels in society. This year’s theme ‘Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible, and sustainable post-COVID-19 world’ ensures that no person living with disability is left behind. With the disruption brought about the by the COVID-19 pandemic, we have witnessed several gains in healthcare, education lost as a result of restricted movement in order to contain the spread of the virus and this has especially been the case for persons with disabilities and they face several challenges as they access these critical services.

The United Nations estimates that in Africa, 80 to 90 percent of persons with disabilities of working age are unemployed, and school enrollment for young people with disabilities in Africa is estimated to be only 5-10% (African Studies Centre, 2018).

Inclusive education is a key contributor to a country’s productivity and economic growth. Creating prosperity across the continent will require leaders of all backgrounds and experiences who will work to ensure that the emerging economic and social benefits are available to all.

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is focused on developing the next generation of ethical leaders, so it is essential that we intentionally focus on youth for which barriers to education are especially difficult.

Since the inception of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa in July 2020, we are on track to recruit a diverse and inclusive student body, which includes 5 percent of young men and women with disabilities and our goal is to recruit 7 percent (70 students) over 10 years. In September 2021, the first student with visual impairment enrolled into the program.

We interviewed two Mastercard Foundation Scholars, Faith Mwikali Musyoki pursing a Bachelor of Science in Applied Computer Technology and Hezborn Muiru Wangari pursing a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations who have embarked on their leadership journey here at USIU-Africa and are transforming the leadership narrative for persons living with disabilities.

Watch their journey here.

By Linet Aguko

Ms. Linet Aguko, Program Director, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program was awarded the 2022 We Rise Together Award in Student Advocacy by Duolingo Inc. for her immense contribution in transforming the lives of students within the categories of Access, Innovation, Social Justice, and Student Advocacy in the field of higher education.

This comes after the Duolingo English Test put a call out to their global network for nomination last month where she was nominated among others. The award also involves a monetary donation to the charity of Ms. Aguko’s choice on behalf of Duolingo.

Duolingo Inc. develops a language-learning website and mobile app in the United States and China. The company offers courses in 40 different languages, including Spanish, English, French, Japanese, German, Italian, Chinese, Portuguese, and others. It also provides a digital language proficiency assessment exam. The company was incorporated in 2011 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

By Brenda Odhiambo

Makerere University, which is a partner institution in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, visited USIU-Africa from March 27-28, for a benchmarking visit.

The delegation, which included the Program Director, Prof. Namaalwa Justine JJumba, the Program Administrator, Ms. Harriet Nakiryowa, and the Principal Communication Officer, Mr. Bernard Buteera, came to exchange knowledge and best practices to strengthen the implementation of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at both Makerere University and USIU-Africa.

Ms. Linet Aguko, the Program Director of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa, welcomed the delegation and emphasized the significance of collaboration between the two institutions. She stated, "We are delighted to host our colleagues from Makerere University and share our experiences in implementing the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program here at USIU-Africa. Collaboration and knowledge exchange are essential for driving meaningful impact in the lives of young people across the continent".

Prof. Namaalwa, representing Makerere University, expressed their keen interest in learning from USIU-Africa's experience. She said, "We are here to gather insights that will enhance our implementation of the Scholars Program at Makerere University. USIU-Africa’s success and expertise in areas such as the recruitment and selection processes for Refugees and Displaced Youth and Youth with Disability are of keen interest to us, as we seek to make our institution truly inclusive".

The key areas of interest for the Makerere University team included recruitment processes for refugees/ displaced youth and youth with disability, the operations of the Disability and Inclusion Centre, transition support for refugees/ displaced youth and youth with disability, the Program’s monitoring and evaluation plans/activities, and the institutional transformations as a result of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa. Additionally, the team also had the opportunity to take part in a campus tour, as well as a group discussion with Scholars drawn from the Program.

Makerere University is an independent national university of the Republic of Uganda and a center of excellence offering undergraduate and graduate courses to learners across Africa. In partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, Makerere University has been able to recruit over 1,032 Scholars since 2013, out of whom 933 have graduated and become enterprising leaders who contribute significantly to the development of their communities.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program will enable 1,000 high-performing students facing financial, gender, displacement, or disability constraints to receive quality education and leadership development over the next 10 years.

By Taigu Muchiri, Brenda Odhiambo and Laurie Armstrong

On Tuesday, July 14, 2020, USIU-Africa and the Mastercard Foundation announced a partnership that will enable 1,000 high-performing students to receive quality education and leadership development over the next 10 years under the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. The partnership provides scholarships for high potential students facing financial, gender, displacement, or disability constraints. At least 70 percent of the young people who benefit from the partnership will be young women, while 25 percent will be displaced or refugee youth, and at least 10 percent will be young people living with disabilities. With this USD 63.2 million partnership, USIU-Africa joins the Foundation’s expanding global network of partners committed to developing a generation of African leaders who will use their knowledge and skills to lead change in their communities, and contribute to meaningful transformation across the continent.

Speaking after the signing of the partnership, USIU-Africa’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Paul Zeleza noted that the partnership was a milestone in the University’s history.

“With the support of the Mastercard Foundation, we look forward to significantly expanding the impact and reach that USIU-Africa has had all across the world, by moulding students who will catalyze Africa’s continued advancement into a better, brighter future. By embracing the Scholars Program, we will increase the international student population from 15 percent to 20 percent which is in line with the university’s strategy of internationalization. Also, the Scholars Program will enhance socio-economic diversity of the student population as it will increase the number of students with disability, refugees, young women and displaced youth to address barriers to higher education for these marginalized populations,” he said.

Mastercard Foundation’s Chief Program Officer, Peter Materu, is excited to on-board USIU-Africa as a partner in the Scholars Program, noting the university’s excellent academic standing and demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion.

“For close to a decade, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program has worked in Africa, through initiatives like Wings to Fly and direct partnerships with educational organizations at the secondary and tertiary levels, to enable young people from disadvantaged communities to access quality learning and develop their leadership potential. Our partnership with USIU-Africa builds on this historic work, which is already serving thousands of young leaders on the continent. Fundamentally, it is about expanding opportunity to all young people, irrespective of their socio-economic background,” he said.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is an initiative to develop Africa’s next generation of leaders by giving students, whose talent and promise exceed their financial resources, an opportunity to complete their education. Through the Program, Scholars receive holistic student support, including comprehensive scholarships, leadership development, and access to internships and industry-driven career services. The Scholars Program is a growing commitment and to date, the Program has committed over USD 1 billion to supporting the education and leadership development of more than 37,000 young people.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa is expected to kick off in the 2020/2021 Academic Year.

By Jemima Oloo

The Mastercard Foundation, in partnership with USIU-Africa, is running a one-year Graduate Associate Program. The aim of the program is to give graduates the opportunity to acquire real work experience and dignified work.

The Graduate Associate Program is a one-year program, starting from April 2023 to April 2024. The Mastercard Foundation recruits Associates all over Africa and they are placed within their country of residence after a series of intense interviews. The associates are then matched depending on their skill sets or education background to different Mastercard partner organizations.

USIU-Africa received 12 Associates who were placed in different departments: Gender office, Fundraising, Counselling department, ICT, Marketing and Communications, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, Alumni, Student Placement and Records office.

USIU-Africa runs a unique placement program where the associates are given training and mentorship while working. The Associates in return have been beneficial to the university since they help to offset the workload in their different departments hence increasing the efficiency in delivery of service for USIU-Africa.

The young Associates drawn from various parts of the country offer fresh ideas and a unique work ethic due to the rigorous work ethic training they have received from Mastercard Foundation.

Peter Njuguna, a USIU-Africa alumni and a graduate associate placed at the registrar’s office narrates his experience as being very exciting, having to come back to give back to this institution. “My supervisor has been a great role model and the learning experience has been fulfilling,” narrates an excited Peter.

Cosmas Kiprotich, a graduate associate placed in the ICT department under the School of Science and Technology explains that he has been grateful to for the opportunity to learn new things. “It has been a pleasure assisting students in the labs, helping them install applications and giving them solutions.”

Catherine Mukami, placed in the Counselling Office has been efficient in assisting the department to schedule events, ensuring clients get help when they visit the counseling department and researching on how best to help the Counselling Office.

The Mastercard Foundation in partnership with USIU-Africa is doing a great job in giving a platform to young minds and change makers, by not just offering opportunities to young people but also training and mentoring these future leaders.

By Jemima Oloo

The Mastercard Foundation, in partnership with USIU-Africa, is running a one-year Graduate Associate Program. The aim of the program is to give graduates the opportunity to acquire real work experience and dignified work.

The Graduate Associate Program is a one-year program, starting from April 2023 to April 2024. The Mastercard Foundation recruits Associates all over Africa and they are placed within their country of residence after a series of intense interviews. The associates are then matched depending on their skill sets or education background to different Mastercard Foundation partner organizations.

USIU-Africa received 12 Associates who were placed in different departments: Gender office, Development, Counselling Department, ICT, Marketing and Communications, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, Alumni, Placement & Career Services and Registrar’s office.

USIU-Africa runs a unique placement program where the associates are given training and mentorship while working. The Associates in return have been beneficial to the university since they help to offset the workload in their different Departments hence increasing the efficiency in delivery of service for USIU-Africa.

The young Associates drawn from various parts of the country offer fresh ideas and a unique work ethic due to the rigorous work ethic training they have received from Mastercard Foundation.

Peter Njuguna, a USIU-Africa alumni and a graduate associate placed at the registrar’s office narrates his experience as being very exciting, having to come back to give back to this institution. “My supervisor has been a great role model and the learning experience has been fulfilling,” narrates an excited Peter.

Cosmas Kiprotich, a graduate associate placed in the ICT Department under the School of Science and Technology explains that he has been grateful to for the opportunity to learn new things. “It has been a pleasure assisting students in the labs, helping them install applications and giving them solutions.”

Catherine Mukami, placed in the Counselling Office has been efficient in assisting the Department to schedule events, ensuring clients get help when they visit the counseling department and researching on how best to help the Counselling Office.

The Mastercard Foundation in partnership with USIU-Africa is doing a great job in giving a platform to young minds and change makers, by not just offering opportunities to young people but also training and mentoring these future leaders.

By Goldalyn K. Tanga and Brenda Odhiambo

As we mark the 9th International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we spoke with Goldalyn K. Tanga, a Mastercard Foundation Scholar and a first-year student in the BSc. Epidemiology and Biostatistics program at USIU-Africa. In this interview, she shares her academic journey, the inspirations behind her chosen field of study, and her vision of contributing to the community through her scientific endeavors.

Tell us about your academic journey so far and what sparked your interest in science.
My favorite subjects in primary school were Science and Mathematics. Basic as the concepts were at the time, I was still intrigued and fascinated by what I learnt. I enjoyed solving equations and deciphering the workings of things. After performing extremely well in in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination, I received the Margaret Kenyatta Award, a scholarship which enabled me to go to high school in one of the most prestigious international schools in Kenya, Brookhouse School, where I completed my IGCSE and A-level studies.

Throughout my studies at Brookhouse, my inclination towards the sciences didn’t falter. I found it thrilling that I could explore Biology, Physics and Chemistry individually, and to the extent that I did. It was no wonder that I chose Mathematics, Chemistry and Biology for my A-level course. My gravitation towards Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects stemmed from my inherent curiosity- I live for the eureka moments that I encountered ever so often in these classes. Hence, pursuing a STEM course was a no-brainer for me. Currently, I am in my third semester of my first year in university, undertaking a Bachelor of Science in Epidemiology and Biostatistics under the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa.

Why did you choose Epidemiology and Biostatistics as your field of study? Are there any female scientists or researchers who inspire you? If so, why?

At the end of Year 10, I had the opportunity to take up work experience for a short period of time at the Nairobi Hospital courtesy of my high school. Initially, I did want to become a doctor. Around the same time, through an initiative by the school, I would visit the Kenyatta National Hospital periodically to spend time with the children in one of the orthopedic wards. My experience from both of these hospitals were extremely eye-opening and informed my decision to study Epidemiology and Biostatistics. I figured that I did not want to become a doctor. Instead, I wanted to work in public health and research to address the different issues in public health, such as equity, accessibility and quality in healthcare, implement sustainable solutions and, ultimately, prevent disease altogether. Pursuing my studies in the Epidemiology and Biostatistics program has been so fulfilling so far.

A remarkable woman I am delighted to have crossed paths with is Dr. Prabha Choksey of Dr. Choksey Albinism Foundation. As I am a person with albinism, you might guess the circumstances under which we met. Dr. Choksey is a renowned, award-winning ophthalmologist who has used her profession to provide free eye care as well as educational support to children with albinism through her foundation. She inspires me to excel in my education and make use of my knowledge and strengths to empower and uplift others in society. She is my constant reminder that at any given point in time, I have all it takes to make a difference, to strive for better and create change.

Balancing academic commitments with other aspects of life as a student can be challenging. How do you manage this balance, particularly in terms of involvement in extra-curricular activities and pursuing your personal interests?

I believe that I am constantly learning, from the courses I take each semester, to the commitments I make outside of class. Therefore, choosing what extracurricular activities and personal interests I partake in take the same deliberation as my classes would. Being intentional with what I commit my time to ensures that I am consistent in my endeavors outside of class. I also try as much as possible to take part in activities that genuinely interest me so that I am always willing to show up to learn as well as contribute. Working with mentors also ensures that I stay on track.

Participating in extra-curricular activities and other personal interests such as clubs, volunteer work, physical recreation and a number of hobbies has encouraged a lot of self-exploration and discovery. Because of this, I hold both my academics and involvements outside at similar, yet relatively high regard. That balance is maintained by prioritizing rest when I need to and incorporating activities that help me destress and unwind to avoid burnout.

What advice would you offer to young women and girls who are aspiring to build careers in science based on your own experiences and challenges?
Although I really enjoyed Biology in high school, I always dreaded a microscope. Not only am I short-sighted, but I also have nystagmus, which is simply constant rapid, involuntary eye movement. Working on a microscope was always challenging because I could never get my eyes to focus for extended periods of time, and I often missed little details on the sample images. Yet, throughout my A-level course, I emerged the best in my Biology class. I found it ironic because I often thought the microscope to be a scientist's most vital tool. How wrong I was! Science is such a broad field with a lot of areas that anyone can specialize in. There is no limit, and if there is, it is coming from you. Explore, discover your strengths and capitalize on them. Microscopy was just one topic, with only one practical question, there was no way it could have held me back when I did my best in all the other topics. Take it from me. Do not falter because of a setback in one area when there is so much more in store for you. I still dread microscopes, but I am good at a lot of other things.

How do you envision utilizing your degree to contribute to the community? What impact do you aspire to make in your chosen field or the broader scientific community?

Health is an immeasurable resource. Reproductive health is vital in any community ecosystem. Therefore, I aspire to propagate initiatives that promote community health through the education of girls and women on their health and well-being, while drawing inspiration from initiatives such as Beyond Zero. As a public health worker, I hope to get the opportunity to leverage health policies such that they promote the education of women and girls on their health as well as create accessibility to vital resources, addressing teenage pregnancies, period poverty and gender-specific illnesses. In the process, I hope to inspire and empower girls to be bold in their endeavors because being a girl is a superpower. I also aspire to further pursue Biostatistics, and fully immerse myself in scientific research. It is a dream of mine to open a research institution that caters to the creativity, devotion and enthusiasm of young scientists in Kenya by equipping them with the skills and resources to invent and innovate sustainably.

By Safari Etien and Brenda Odhiambo

Safari Etien, a Mastercard Foundation Scholar and a third-year International Relations student was recently named as the first runners up winner of the ICRC Essay Competition for East African universities. The competition, which featured entries from over 50 universities across 7 countries, delved into the intersection of climate change, environmental degradation, and armed conflict, posing unique challenges for vulnerable populations.

The essay examined the complex challenges arising from the convergence of climate change, environmental degradation, and armed conflict. It highlighted how competition over scarce resources, displacement of populations, disruption of agriculture, and disproportionate impacts on vulnerable groups can be aggravated by climate change and environmental degradation, potentially worsening conflicts. Environmental damage during conflicts, through infrastructure destruction or exploitation of resources, can have long-term consequences. Addressing these interconnected issues requires comprehensive policies guided by international humanitarian law (IHL).

“Competition over scarce resources is intensified by climate change, worsening tensions and conflict. Climate impacts like sea level rise and desertification displace populations, straining resources in host communities and increasing tensions. Disruption of agricultural systems from climate change leads to food insecurity, hunger, and instability in regions heavily reliant on agriculture,” he noted.

“Climate change and conflicts disproportionately affect vulnerable populations including marginalized groups, women, children and the poor. Their increased vulnerability intensifies inequality, social unrest, and fuels conflicts. Environmental damage from conflicts hampers economic recovery, weakens infrastructure, and limits natural resources needed for post-conflict rebuilding,” he added.

International cooperation, according to him, is paramount in building resilience to climate impacts, preventing conflict, and sharing expertise and technical assistance. He highlighted the necessity of integrating adaptation and mitigation strategies into humanitarian efforts, particularly in providing clean water, sanitation, and clean energy while encouraging sustainable practices in conflict zones.

The essay highlights the relevance of International Humanitarian Law in safeguarding civilians and minimizing suffering during armed conflicts. It emphasizes the need for comprehensive policies that incorporate climate factors into prevention and peacebuilding strategies, anchored in IHL frameworks. Moreover, the essay calls for enhanced compliance with rules protecting civilians and the environment, along with fostering international cooperation to share expertise and prevent conflict.
Safari also stresses the importance of updating International Humanitarian Law to address the evolving nature of armed conflicts and emerging challenges. He advocates for the integration of IHL education and training into academic curricula and professional development programs to promote compliance with humanitarian principles and uphold the importance of IHL.

By Dolly Mwiti

On Friday, January 26, 175 Scholars in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa took part in a virtual workshop titled ‘Tailoring a CV to a Job Position’. The workshop, led by Sidoine Felix M. Leudjie, Program Associate at the African Leadership Academy, along with other experts from the African Careers Network team, Wilfrid Ahouansou & Camille Bastien. The session was designed to equip participants with invaluable skills to optimize their professional profiles.

Throughout the engaging session, the Scholars were immersed in insightful discussions aimed at achieving key objectives. From understanding the true purpose of a CV to crafting compelling content tailored to specific job positions, and mastering the art of review and improvement, they gained practical insights crucial for standing out in today's competitive job market.

The response from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing newfound confidence in articulating their acquired skills. Armed with a comprehensive understanding of CV tailoring, the Scholars are now better equipped to navigate the job market successfully by presenting tailored CVs that resonate with potential employers.

By Brenda Odhiambo
Last Friday, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Transitions Office hosted a celebratory dinner for Scholars who completed their prepare level internship program in Spring, Summer and Fall semesters of 2023. The event, held at the Phoenicia Hotel, brought together 46 Scholars, and provided a platform for them to share their experiences, reflections, and feedback on the internship.

The prepare level internship is a mandatory non-academic program for all Scholars in their second and third years designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world application, equipping them with valuable skills and insights as they prepare to join the job market. Currently, 103 Scholars have completed their Prepare level Internship.

During the event, the Scholars interacted and shared their diverse experiences, learnings, and insights gained during their internships, as well as sharing some of the challenges faced during their internships, promoting peer support and offering valuable insights for improvement.

Speaking during the event, Annette Kamariza, a third-year student in the Bachelor of Science in International Business Administration program shared her experience as an intern at Water for the People in Uganda, where she served in the Human Resources Department.

“The internship allowed me to put my classroom knowledge into practice, and I gained valuable hands-on experience in the field of Human Resource management," she shared. “During my internship, I had the opportunity to serve on the board, where I was part of the team that recruited seven employees during my time at the organization,” she said.

Bonam Osene, a Cameroonian Scholar in his third-year in the Applied Computer Technology program, noted that the internship sharpened his critical thinking skills.

“During my internship, I had the opportunity to take part in a 48-hour hackathon to solve some of Cameroon’s pressing problems. The hackathon pushed me to think creatively to ensure that the solutions proposed would not only be innovative, but solve the challenges at hand,” he said.

“The internship was a valuable experience that equipped me with skills critical to the workplace, such as teamwork and communication. I commend the Program team for this initiative and we hope that we will have more opportunities for career mentorship to ensure that we build the knowledge and expertise to be job-ready,” he added.

"The prepare level internship plays a pivotal role in equipping our Scholars with the necessary skills and experience to bridge the gap between academic learning and professional careers. I congratulate each of you on the achievement of this milestone," said Madzo Mwadzoya, the Transitions Lead in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa.

"This post-internship dinner is a vital platform for sharing, learning, and improvement. We are deeply grateful for your engagement and insightful feedback, which will undoubtedly guide us in further strengthening the Program and ensuring that our Scholars succeed in their chosen endeavors,” she added.

By Wambui Cheche
In January 2023, 45 Mastercard Foundation Scholars at USIU-Africa with a passion for mentorship launched a mentors program that visits schools within Kenya to speak on various topics including academic excellence, self-awareness, drug and substance abuse, and transformative leadership. This initiative aims to cultivate leadership skills, public speaking confidence, and a spirit of giving back among the Scholars, while inspiring students in the various schools they visit.

Last Saturday, the Scholar mentors visited Still I Rise International School, engaging over 200 pupils in Seekers class, MYP1, MYP2, and MYP3. Discussions focused on academic excellence, choosing the right friends, and navigating peer pressure. The Scholars also shared personal experiences highlighting how they overcame challenges to excel academically. The School was appreciative to start this partnership as mentorship from young adults whom the students can easily relate to has been one of the areas lacking in their programs.

So far, the mentorship program has impacted several schools, such as; Garden Estate Secondary School, Kibera School for Girls, Isiolo Girls High School, Kisima Mixed Secondary school, and Cheleta Primary School.

By Linet Aguko

The inaugural cohort of Scholars under the Mastercard Scholars Program have elected new officials to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Council, with the Chair of the USIU-Africa chapter representing the University in the global Mastercard Foundation Scholars Council.

The electoral process for the Scholar Council representative began on Friday, October 8, with a meeting with the Scholars in which they were taken through the function and structure of the Scholar Council, including its role, the responsibilities of the elected officials, the term of office for elected representatives, among others.

Participation was opened up to all 23 Scholars, with the positions up for grabs including that of the President and Scholar Council Rep, Vice President, Secretary General and the Finance Director. Each position had three nominees who were either nominated by other scholars or nominated themselves. All candidates had two days to campaign, after which they participated in a debate where they had the opportunity to field questions from the rest of the Scholars to give more insights into their plans of action if they happened to be elected.

Elections were conducted on Monday, October 19, 2020 through a secret ballot overseen by 3 commissioners, drawn from the continuing students in the Foundation’s ALA Scholar’s Program, and three observers, drawn from the Admissions and Fundraising Departments, who oversaw the process and gave overall guidance in conjunction with the Program Director. The winners were announced at the end of the day, and they included Chut Dau Giet, who was elected as President and the Scholar Council Representative, Amos Onyancha, who was elected as Vice President, Kharis Ilunga as the Secretary General, and Yasmin Opiyo Kwach as Finance Director.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Council was created collaboratively by MCF Scholars from participating MCF institutions for the purpose of fostering individual and program success through active student participation, relationship-building, and the maintenance of strong links with alumni. The Council sets out to produce an active body of scholars who put into practice the ideals of giving back to society, effective leadership and outstanding personal and professional accomplishments that positively impact communities in tangible and quantifiable ways.

The Scholar Council representative will serve for a full calendar year and support the onboarding process for the next representative at the end of their term. The elected officials will be officially inaugurated on Monday, October 26, 2020.

By Evelyne Kerubo
USIU-Africa’s Mastercard Foundation Scholars attended the first YALE Model African Union conference that was held in Kigali Rwanda from May, 11-16, 2022. The delegation was led by Safari Etienne, an International Relations Major and Evelyne Kerubo, the Scholars Program Psychologist together with 26 other Scholars.

The Yale Model African Union by the Ivy League School was for the purpose of engaging in Pan-African dialogue by delegates on key challenges in Africa. The YMAU opening ceremony was attended by delegates from all over Africa and other parts of the world such as the United States and the United Kingdom. Delegates were put up in various committees that represented the various African nations and their interests during the highly interactive sessions.

Other delegates that attended the conference were from Yale, Laikipia University, Catholic University of Eastern Africa, African Leadership Academy and Alliance High School. Delegates also had the opportunity of interacting with employees from leading organizations such as the US Embassy in Nairobi, USAID and the United Nations during the career fair.

Last Thursday, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa hosted the Amahoro Coalition to discuss areas of collaboration in regard to the provision of internship opportunities for displaced students. The Coalition, in partnership with the Scholars Program will identify 2-3 students who will work at Amahoro and gain the opportunity to refine their skills in research, project planning, support, and work on interpersonal skills. Currently, three Scholars are undertaking their internship with the Coalition.

The Amahoro Coalition is an African-led initiative convening multi-sector actors from across the region to accelerate private sector leadership in driving sustainable market-based interventions that advance economic inclusion for displaced populations. The Coalition champions the need for home-grown solutions to the region’s refugee crisis. The Coalition provides structure and resources to help unlock the potential of the African private sector to generate transformative opportunities for displaced communities. Additionally, The Amahoro Coalition is offering a training and gig work opportunity through their Ajira Digital Project partner targeting refugee students and persons with disability. The Ajira Digital Program, in partnership with the Amahoro Coalition, is exploring ways to enable the refugee population in Kenya to work online and deliver business solutions for the private sector in Kenya.

This program includes a two-week training and work opportunity and the participants will be guided on how to acquire work on the platform. After two weeks, they can continue to work as freelancers on the platform. So far, 14 Scholars from the Scholars Program have expressed interest in participating in the Ajira Digital Program.

On Wednesday, October 11, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa hosted an information session for potential applicants interested in applying to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

The info session was a platform for the Recruitment team to share USIU-Africa’s academic offering, programs, and achievements. It also gave prospective students the chance to interact with university representatives, gain valuable insights into the diverse courses available, and learn about the unique USIU-Africa experience, as well as the Scholars Program.

During the session, which was attended by 250 students, the Recruitment and Selection team led by Faith Mugambi and Rahab Cheche engaged the prospective students in a lively conversation on why they should consider USIU-Africa for their higher education., emphasizing the opportunities the students would get as Scholars to be part of a vibrant campus life that nurtured personal and professional growth.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa provides full-cost scholarships to young Africans who are first-time undergraduate degree-seeking applicants. By completion of their studies, Scholars will be required to lead changes in their communities and contribute to meaningful transformation across the continent, having been equipped with internationally recognized and locally applicable qualifications. The Program currently has a call for applications for those interested in joining the September (Fall) 2024 Intake.

By Everlyn Musa

The month of May was busy for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program eLearning Initiative. It started with the eLearning summit in Saly, Senegal (May 22-23), which hosted 60 partners from the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program eLearning network who gathered to reflect on the progress the Initiative has made so far and the next steps ahead. In the next few months, participating institutions will express their interests for the next phase that seeks to implement and scale lessons learned in the last 2 years. These proposals will transition institutions from emergency remote learning that was necessitated by COVID-19, to quality online programs. USIU-Africa was represented by Eannes Ongus (Advancement Office), Everlyn Musa (eLearning Initiative), Dr. Phillip Machoka (USIU-A Online), Gabriel Okello, (MERL), Wanjira Kinuthia (Instructional Designer – Lead Trainer) and Onesimus Otieno (Online Pedagogy – Lead Trainer).

The eLearning Summit was immediately followed by the eLearning Africa conference in Dakar, Senegal (May 24-26). Those that attended the eLearning Summit were joined by 4 (four) additional Faculty Advisors – Drs. Tutaleni Asino, Rebecca Bayeck, Joselyn Chenane Nkogo, Safary Wa-Mbaleka. The USIU Africa team presented two papers;

• Innovative eLearning Solutions in Low-Resource Settings
• Building Capacity for In-House e-Learning Design’

Additionally, Yaping Gao (VP, Member Services & Global Partnerships at Quality Matters (QM), and Dr. Phillip Machoka (USIU Africa Online) conducted half-day pre-conference workshop at the eLearning conference entitled “From Remote Instruction to Quality Online: Establish Social, Cognitive and Teaching Presence to Help All Students Succeed”. This gave participants hands-on tools for developing and maintaining quality online programs that will stand the rigors of national accreditation bodies around the world. The workshop was a highlight even in a partnership between Quality Matters (QM) and the Mastercard Foundation to train faculty in applying the QM rubric for quality assurance in programs across the continent.

By Everlyn Anyal

Dr. Diane Kouame, Lead, Mastercard Foundation eLearning Initiative and Lead, Scholars Program (Francophone partner network) paid a courtesy call to USIU-Africa on Monday, February 13, 2023. She was accompanied during the visit by Pauline Gangla, Head of Scholars Program, Eastern and Southern Partner Network - Mastercard Foundation and Julie Waiganjo, a USIU-Africa Alumni and Head, Scholars Program Communications - Mastercard Foundation.

Dr. Kouame met with the Vice Chancellor Prof. Margee Ensign. She also met the Leadership team of USIU-Africa Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program eLearning Initiative Workstream B (WSB) project comprising Prof. Munyae Mulinge, Deputy Vice Chancelor - Academic and Student Affairs (DVC-ASA); Prof. Paul Okanda, Director, ICT; Prof. Amos Njuguna, Dean, School of Graduate Studies, Research and Extension; Dr. Philip Machoka, Director, USIU Online; Eannes Ongus, Chief Manager, University Advancement; and Everlyn Anyal, Director, Mastercard Foundation eLearning Initiative at USIU-Africa.

The main purpose of the visit was to meet and know the Institution’s Leadership and Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program eLearning team, understand USIU-Africa eLearning Initiative Workstream A (WSA) impact and preparation for WSB implementation and hold discussions on the next steps after WSA.

In the discussions, Dr. Kouame expressed her gratitude to USIU-Africa for the exemplary role it has played in the eLearning partnership to support 10 institutions to strengthen their capacities to offer quality and resilient Online learning to all learners at all times and from wherever they are. On her part, Prof. Ensign underscored the noble role USIU-Africa is playing of developing future leaders and of transforming lives and societies. She highlighted USIU-Africa’s elaborate ICT infrastructure that has enabled it to provide quality learning and support services to its student, faculty and staff population. Regarding Online education, the Vice Chancellor took pride in USIU-Africa’s fully Online MBA Program as a sign of the university’s commitment to develop and offer Online learning. She pledged the institution’s support to the eLearning Initiative and continued collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation.

The Mastercard Foundation, United States International University-Africa (USIU-Africa), and Arizona State University (ASU) have announced the launch of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program e-Learning Initiative, which over the next five years will enable more than 600,000 university students to successfully pursue their studies online, from anywhere across Africa.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many universities, including those within the Scholars Program network, to suspend face-to-face classes and pivot to online learning. Building on what was learned during the disruption, this initiative will increase the investments that have already been made and strengthen the existing capacity of university partners to deliver high-quality, relevant, and inclusive e-learning courses. It will increase the number of young people accessing tertiary level education, particularly those living with disabilities, young women, refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and those living in rural areas. More than that, it will contribute to an e-learning community of practice in Africa, and beyond, that will enable collaborative learning and sharing of best practices, and resources.

“This agreement will bolster our e-learning capacity-building alongside 10 other participating international universities and strengthen the Scholars Program partner universities to deliver high-quality and inclusive online instruction and provide virtual support to all students,” said Professor Freida Brown, Interim Vice Chancellor, USIU-Africa. “It will also support the development of a community of practice in e-learning.”

During the first phase of the program (2020 to 2022), 135 faculty and staff from across 10 partner institutions will be trained to design and deliver online courses, and an estimated 95,000 students will access online learning. In the second phase (2022 to 2025), the number of online learners will grow to more than 600,000 and the initiative will be scaled to include new partners and institutions that are not currently part of the Scholars Program network.

Arizona State University (ASU), a leader in the space of e-learning, will serve as Lead Trainer, providing foundational training to the faculty and staff and conducting a series of tiered leadership roundtables and learning sessions. As the Network Facilitator, USIU-Africa, which was one of the first institutions in East Africa to successfully transition 90 percent of its programming online, will contextualize the content for an African setting and facilitate engagement and learning across the network. The Mastercard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning will play a key role, hosting a shared Content Management System that will curate content from participating universities within the Partner network. The Centre will also provide support to those institutions interested in developing in-house e-learning resource centres.

The initiative is aligned with the Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy and the vision for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program to create a transformative network of young people and institutions driving inclusive and equitable socio-economic change in Africa. This initiative will connect young people to educational content that is relevant and context specific through a curriculum that reflects labour market realities, includes courses on transformative leadership and ethics, and prioritizes mental health and well-being. Students will successfully acquire knowledge and be able to fully engage with faculty and course work in a supportive online environment.

COVID-19 provided the impetus to rethink how we conceptualize and deliver education. Digitally-enabled learning is the wave of the future,” said Philip Cotton, Director, Human Capital Development, Mastercard Foundation. “But for everyone to benefit from this trend, we have to act now to ensure that all young people – irrespective of their background or location— are able to access work-relevant training conveniently and affordably. A big part of that is strengthening the capacity of higher education institutions to deliver online learning.”

Arizona State University is bound not by geography, but by principles,” said ASU President Michael M. Crow. “Our focus is on student success and embracing technology to expand not only the quality of learning but access to education and thus our embrace of digital education. We are eager to take our work to a new level as part of this collaboration with USIU-Africa and the Mastercard Foundation to build online learning systems in Africa that are resilient to future shocks and customized to meet the individual needs of learners, anywhere on the continent.”

The initiative is aligned with the Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy and the vision for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program to create a transformative network of young people and institutions driving inclusive and equitable socio-economic change in Africa. This initiative will connect young people to educational content that is relevant and context specific through a curriculum that reflects labour market realities, includes courses on transformative leadership and ethics, and prioritizes mental health and well-being. Students will successfully acquire knowledge and be able to fully engage with faculty and course work in a supportive online environment.

COVID-19 provided the impetus to rethink how we conceptualize and deliver education. Digitally-enabled learning is the wave of the future,” said Philip Cotton, Director, Human Capital Development, Mastercard Foundation. “But for everyone to benefit from this trend, we have to act now to ensure that all young people – irrespective of their background or location— are able to access work-relevant training conveniently and affordably. A big part of that is strengthening the capacity of higher education institutions to deliver online learning.

Since training began in July 2021, the 135 e-Learning Champions have commenced their learning journey by completing the two-week virtual Master Class for Teaching Online with ASU and have advanced to the next phase, which includes Specialized Coaching tracks in Instructional Design and Online Pedagogy with USIU-Africa.

The partners participating in the first phase of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program e-Learning initiative are:

• African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS)
• American University of Beirut
• Ashesi University
• EARTH University
• Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
• Makerere University
• United States International University-Africa
• University of Abomey-Calavi
• University of Gondar
• University of Rwanda

By Brenda Odhiambo

Ritah Mbabazi is a Mastercard Foundation Scholar at USIU-Africa and is in her third year of pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Finance. Beyond her academic pursuits, Ritah is also a treasurer for the Student Association Cabinet, an ambassador for the Mastercard Foundation Baobab platform, and an ambassador for the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship. As the Founder of Mbabazi Cassava Crisps, Ritah is also a visionary entrepreneur looking to make a difference in the community.

At the heart of Ritah's entrepreneurial vision is a mission to transform cassava, the second major staple food in Uganda, her home country, into crisps. The abundance of cassava production in the country led her toward finding a solution that not only addresses food wastage but also empowers women in her community. Her venture involves purchasing cassava from local women, providing them with the skills to make crisps, thereby creating economic opportunities and reducing food wastage.

Ritah's journey toward becoming a Fellowship finalist was one of resilience and dedication.

“Balancing the demands of the Fellowship with my academic responsibilities required determination and sacrifice. While many participants dropped out during the first phase, I remained persistent, driven by the belief in the potential impact of my idea,” she says.

Ritah believes that her entrepreneurial endeavour could be a catalyst for positive change. She sees her business employing over 100 people from her community and beyond. Beyond job creation, she aims to contribute to the reduction of cassava wastage in Uganda and empower women by imparting valuable skills in the production of cassava crisps.

Ritah has some words of advice for those aspiring to apply for the Fellowship:

“Seize the opportunity and apply [for] the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship. The Fellowship will give you access to invaluable coaching, resources, and an opportunity to network with other aspiring entrepreneurs. You must be determined, goal-oriented and ambitious to be able to navigate the Fellowship successfully,” she shares.

Ritah envisions herself becoming an inspiration to the girlchild in her community, creating employment opportunities for numerous individuals in Uganda, and expanding her business to other regions with additional funding from various organizations. Her participation in the Fellowship has equipped her with essential business and entrepreneurship skills, particularly in pitching her ideas convincingly to potential funding organizations. She hopes to use these skills to create positive change in the community through innovative entrepreneurship.

About the Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship

The Jim Leech Mastercard Foundation Fellowship on Entrepreneurship is an 8- month program designed to cultivate exceptional entrepreneurial skillsets and mindsets. It empowers emerging leaders to drive both social and financial impact through their ventures. The Fellowship is committed to nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit in African students and recent graduates, fostering innovation, and creating a positive change in the world. Applications for the Fellowship are ongoing, and can be accessed here.

The application deadline for the 2024 program year is Monday, December 4, 2023.

By Brenda Odhiambo

Six Mastercard Foundation Scholars studying at USIU-Africa were featured in the first edition of the Regional Bureau for the East and Horn of Africa and Great Lakes (EHAGL) Complementary Pathways Newsletter published by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The Mastercard Foundation Scholars included Safari Etienne, a 2nd year International Relations student who spoke of his journey toward higher education in an interview with the publication.

“I was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. My early life was marked by war, displacement, and uncertainty. My mother, a brave woman, gave birth to me in the midst of chaos and named me "Safari," signifying the journey of my life. Regardless of all the challenges I faced growing up, I did not give up because I had faith and hope that there is no condition which is permanent and no wound without a reason,” he said.

“As I grew up, I became increasingly aware of the opportunities and limitations of life in the settlement. I always dreamed of a better future, one where I could use my education to make a difference,” says Safari. My life took a turn when I got the opportunity to study at USIU-Africa through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. Education at USIU-Africa has brought happiness and purpose to my life,” he added.

Five other Mastercard Foundation Scholars, Rebecca Ndinayo (2nd year, Bachelor of Arts Psychology) Prefina Rebecca (3rd year, Bachelor of Arts International Relations), Samuel Gebreselasie (1st year, Bachelor of Science in Epidemiology and Biostatistics), Raba Abdirahman Hakim (2nd year, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology), and Jean Nepo (1st year, Bachelor of Science in Accounting), were also featured in a pictorial in the publication.

Additional reporting by the UNHCR East and Horn of Africa and Great Lakes (EHAGL) Complementary Pathways Newsletter.

By Pride Nyando, Wycliffe Ochieng, and Dolly Kawira

On Saturday May 13, 2023, three families (Julius Nyerere, Kenneth Kaunda and Wangari Maathai) from the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa took part in this year’s Scholar Day of Service (SDS) with an aim to create a more equitable learning environment for students by providing academic, social, and emotional support to students who may not have access to such resources outside of school. The focus was on Kavilinguni Secondary School in Machakos County where the Scholars provided lockers, and chairs, and mentored the students. During the event, the students’ academic achievements and progress were also recognized and awarded.

In attendance at the event were the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Margee Ensign, Principal Academic Advisor, Mr. Stephen Kiseli, the Principal, Kavilinguni Secondary School, Mr. Boniface Nduta, PTA Chair, Kavilinguni Secondary School, Mr. Kissing Benard, among other members of the School’s leadership. Others in attendance were members of the Scholars Program team at USIU-Africa, 90 Scholars, members of the Rotaract Club at USIU-Africa, teachers, parents and the wider Kavilinguni community.

The goal was to create a discerning community where students feel valued and supported, and helping these students succeed academically and personally. Within the family outreach event, students were assigned to various sessions where they discussed a variety of topics. In the breakout class sessions, the topics of discussion centered around academic performance, time management, goal setting, personal development and career obligation. In the mentorship session, the students were divided into two groups where the students discussed topics on relationships, social and emotional well-being, health and wellness, leadership and community involvement, and cultural awareness and diversity.

In the inclusive session, the areas of highlight were extracurricular activities, community partnerships, student well-being, parental involvement, learning environment and student progress and achievement.
During the awards session, students were awarded according to the best performance, most improved, extracurricular activities, leadership, character and behavior. With the opportunity to hear from role models and experts in their professions, the speaker series by key dignitaries present complemented these subjects for the students.

Kavilinguni high school which hosted this year Scholar Day of Service is a public mixed-day secondary school in Kangundo Sub County, Machakos County. It was started in 1989 by the community's stakeholders. The vision is to make an excellent, noble school with standard infrastructure, well-disciplined students, and very good academic performance. The school is sponsored by the County Education Board (CEB). The current enrollment is 196 students. The average class size of the school is 40. There are 10 Teachers Service Commission teachers.

The event was organized by Scholar Leaders from the three families namely: Silas Ooko Otieno, Madeline Mendy, Pride Nyando, Moureen Agwona, Irene Mungai and Oketch Antony.

On Tuesday, April 16, the Transitions Office of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa hosted a mental health while handling transition session for Scholars in Cohort 1 and 2, in partnership with Solid Minds, a partner of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program working with universities across Africa to elevate the mental health and wellbeing of students. The session was tailored to equip the Scholars with vital tools to manage their mental well-being as they prepare for life after university.

During the session attended by 51 Scholars, the Solid Minds team, led by Dr. Jean Pierre Ndagijimana focused on raising awareness about the mental health challenges faced by students, and providing valuable insights and coping mechanisms for navigating the unique pressures associated with transitioning from university to the professional world. The session addressed various aspects of mental health management, including stress reduction techniques, self-care practices, and identifying resources for continued support.

In his remarks, Dr. Jean Pierre emphasized the importance of mental health awareness and preparedness for the soon to be graduating Scholars.

As you prepare to embark on your journeys beyond campus, regardless of the path you choose, it is critical for you to have the necessary tools to navigate the challenges you may encounter. It is our hope that this session will empower you to take a proactive approach to take care of your mental health, so that you can continue thriving, he said.

We hope that the insights gained from the session will serve as invaluable resources in navigating the complexities of life beyond university. With a solid foundation in mental health awareness and coping strategies, you are well-equipped to become resilient leaders in your respective fields of interest, he added.

In addition to the plenary session, the Scholars also had the opportunity to put into practice what they had learned through drafting approaches in response to several real-world scenarios. The exercise, they noted, was an opportunity to openly discuss their anxieties and uncertainties and learn healthy coping mechanisms which would make their transition feel less daunting.

By Brenda Odhiambo

Last week, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa formally commissioned the fifth cohort of 138 Scholars who joined the university at the beginning of the Fall semester. The Scholars are drawn from 20 African counties, with Scholars from Sierra Leone, Lesotho, Eswatini and Ethiopia represented in the Program for the first time.

In her comments, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Margee Ensign thanked the Mastercard Foundation for their partnership, noting that they were instrumental in the achievement of USIU-Africa’s mission of creating leaders of the future.

“To our students: The world is ahead of you, and we are here to support you in any way that we can to make sure that you are the future leaders of your country, of your continent and the world,” she said.

She also spoke about the overall performance of the Scholars, noting that 98% of the Scholars were in good academic standing, while 31% of Scholars were on the Dean’s list.

The event, which was the first in-person event since the inception of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa, also saw 12 Scholars receive awards for their achievements. The awards recognized the best students across all the four cohorts: the most improved Scholars across all four cohorts, the best overall Scholar, a Community Service Award and an award for the Best Leader in 2022.

In her comments, the Mastercard Foundation Program Director, Ms. Linet Aguko congratulated the Scholars, noting that they exemplified the all-round excellence that was part of USIU-Africa’s core values.

“Each of you here today are an exemplification of what being a student at USIU-Africa is about. You have demonstrated that you are engaged, both amongst yourselves and your communities, and that you have learned and are applying the values of contributing to important intellectual discourse, and being independent learners who are both curious, resilient and adaptable,” she said.

The students awarded at the ceremony were Silas Ooko (top Scholar, Cohort 1), Maureen Agwona Obondo (top Scholar, Cohort 2), Mohamed Abdallah Awad (top Scholar, Cohort 3), Caroline Awuor Odenga, Delicia Queen Mumbe, Joyceline Ngum Ambe, Manjoh Lorantine Zheutikang (top Scholars, Cohort 4), Kharis Ilunga Ntanga (Most Improved Scholar, Cohort 1), Irene Mugeni (Most Improved Scholar, Cohort 2), Raba Abdurahim Hakim (Most Improved Scholar, Cohort 3), Gerald Augustino (Community Service Award, 2022), and Brian Anyika Muchesia, who was named as the Best Overall Scholar, 2022 and the Best Leader, 2022.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program recently marked 10 years of developing young leaders at the annual Baobab Summit held in Kigali, Rwanda. Over the last decade, the Mastercard Foundation has deployed $1.7 billion through the initiative to benefit nearly 40,000 young people, over 72 percent of whom are young women. To date, 18,544 young people have graduated from secondary and higher education.

On Thursday, April 25, 2024, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa graduated 223 Scholars in Cohort 4 and 5 from the Transformative Leadership Training Program, facilitated by VS Management and Consulting. The graduation took place during the annual Scholars' Conference and Award Program (SCAP). The event was a culmination of months of intensive training and mentorship, aimed at equipping Scholars with the skills and knowledge to become transformative leaders in their communities.

In attendance at the ceremony were the Director, Advancement and Partnerships, Mr. Eannes Ongus, the Program Director, Ms. Linet Aguko. Also in attendance were Ms. Nadia Abdalla, Director of Africa Communications at CopAfrica, who was also the chief guest, Mr. Aziricome Popo, Director of Angaza Foundation, Mr. Tonny Kamuya, a Social Worker at Zaidi ya Dreams, and Ms. Naomi Bwalya, a Mastercard Foundation Scholar at USIU-Africa and part of the winning group, The Change Agents. They participated in a plenary session moderated by Mr. Adeyemi Asaba, Lead Consultant, VS Management and Consulting, on the Conference theme, "Empowering Communities: Transformative Impact Through Grassroot Initiatives," sharing insights and experiences from their work in community development, discussing at length the positive impact that community development projects had.

In the keynote address, Nadia spoke about her journey as a leader, which she started as a women’s rights activist in Mombasa all the way to the Pan-African level. In her remarks, she urged the Scholars to always bet on themselves if they wanted to succeed in life.

“Transformative leadership is all about a commitment to self and to the community. You must understand clearly what you stand for, and go for it fearlessly. As Scholars, you must believe in yourselves and believe that you are destined for greatness. Don’t take your position in the world lightly; use it to create a positive ripple effect in your lives, your communities and the continent, “she said.

In addition to the graduation, the ceremony also featured presentations from the finalists who took part in the Scholars' Conference and Award Program (SCAP) Impact Challenge. The teams presented their projects and their impacts to the audience and a panel of judges who assessed the projects for their excellence in storytelling, resource mobilization, project impact, sustainability, localization, and project quality.

The Change Agents, emerged victorious, clinching the grand prize of Ksh. 50,000 for their project focused on imparting life skills to young mothers in Kariobangi, in fulfillment of SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth). The Social Battalion were second, securing the Ksh.30,000 prize for their project that focused on installation of solar panels at Friends Anduru Educational Centre, to address the problem of poor lighting in classrooms that meant teachers and students relied on natural light for teaching and learning. In third place were Elite Innovators, who won Ksh. 10,000 for their project which involved the renovation of a leaking counselling room, offering mentorship sessions and computer literacy classes at Kirigiti Girls Rehabilitation Center in Kiambaa.

Ms. Linet Aguko, the Program Director, congratulated the Scholars on their graduation, urging them to leverage the knowledge and skills acquired during the Transformative Leadership Training Program to become transformative leaders and changemakers who would positively impact their communities.

“It is our hope that taking part in the Transformative Leadership Training and the SCAP Challenge have inspired in you a deeper social consciousness, and has equipped you with the tools and skills to make a positive difference in your communities. It is our hope that each of you now feel even readier to become responsible youth who can contribute to the development and sustainability of your communities,” she noted.

By Cynthia Achola

Last Friday, the Transitions Office in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa in collaboration with the Alumni Relations Office hosted an alumni mentorship session for 95 Scholars featuring six USIU-Africa alumni from Stanbic Bank, accompanied by three graduate trainees and a colleague from SCANAD Marketing Ltd, who included: Catherine Njoroge- Senior Manager, External Affairs, Reputation, and Communications, Michael Gichaga- Manager, Ecosystem, Products, Jean Opiyo- Manager, Applications Development, Adelaide Mbagaya- Specialist, Trade Finance, Trade & Africa China Banking, Grace Wambunya- Officer, Product Control, CIB Finance, and Prudence Sembua- Officer, Tax, Indirect Tax.

In attendance from USIU-Africa were representatives from the Transitions Office, Wycliffe Ochieng and Dolly Mwiti, and the Head of Admissions, Dr. George Lumbasi, with Winnie Tewendi representing the Alumni Relations Office.

The theme of the session was ‘Leadership and Career Development Dynamics in the 21st Century,’ with Catherine Ngina Njoroge, Senior Manager, External Affairs, Reputation, and Communications at Stanbic Bank, serving as the keynote speaker. The session, which was moderated by Ritah Mbabazi, a Mastercard Foundation Scholar in her third year of the BSc. Finance program, aimed to discuss essential leadership qualities needed in the workplace, how to navigate challenges and seize opportunities, strategies for successful job searching and networking, and steps to become effective leaders and develop careers.

In her comments about the book titled ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Leaders as written by Stephen R. Covey’, Catherine emphasized the crucial leadership qualities needed for success in today's workplace. "In addition to that, developing strong communication and collaboration skills is essential," she noted, highlighting the importance of teamwork in a dynamic environment. She also addressed challenges and opportunities in the workplace, and shared insights with the Scholars on how to navigate them effectively. She also offered practical tips on how to stand out in the job market, while other alumni shared personal experiences of overcoming obstacles and achieving career goals.

"A key takeaway for me was the emphasis on continuous learning and adaptability," said Ritah Mbabazi. The session provided valuable insights into the ever-changing job market and the skills employers seek, and these insights will no doubt prove to be critical as we work towards joining the job market,” she added.

The session closed with a vote of thanks from Silas Ooko, a fourth-year Mastercard Foundation Scholar in BA. Film Production and Directing program, who expressed his thanks on behalf of the Scholars, expressing their appreciation for the mentorship and guidance offered by the Stanbic Bank alumni.

By Brenda Odhiambo

On Friday, September 29, 2023, representatives from the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award (known as the President’s Award in Kenya) took 120 Award participants through an induction training designed to introduce the participants to the Award activities, fellow Award participants as well as sharing of information required for them to attain the Gold Award.

In his comments, the training manager, Mr. Christopher Barak, noted that participation in the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award was designed to equip students with additional skills outside the classroom that would make them all-rounded individuals capable of making a difference in their communities.

“Taking part in the Award will help you stand out from your peers because it will demonstrate your individual prowess outside the technical prowess you have in your area of study. The award will be evidence that you have developed critical life skills, including confidence, a sense of purpose, resilience, problem-solving, compassion, and respect for diversity, which are important for navigating the world,” he said.

“The Award will help you discover your capabilities fully, thus making you capable of bringing about change in your communities,” he added.

The Award participants, who include 100 Scholars drawn from the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa will be taking part in the Award at Gold level. The combination of technical expertise and the skills acquired in the pursuit of the Gold Award will mean that the students will be recognized as transformative leaders.

Gold Award participants will be expected to take part in activities focused around four sections, comprising physical recreation, voluntary service, skill development and challenge through Adventurous Journey. They will also complete the Gold Residential project, which is a community service activity designed to broaden the participants’ experiences with their community as they work towards a common goal that they will have identified at the beginning of the Award.

Upon completion of the Award after 18 months, the participants will receive the Gold level certificates from the patron of the President’s Award- Kenya, H.E. Dr. William Ruto.

By Faith Mugambi

On October 9, 2023, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa hosted Mr. Khuboni Sifiso, the Recruitment Lead for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Pretoria. Mr. Khuboni was on campus to benchmark and explore best practices in the recruitment of Scholars, with a specific focus on Youth with Disabilities and Refugees and Displaced Youth.

During his visit, he paid a courtesy call to the Director of Advancement and Partnership, Mr. Eannes Ongus, the Director of the Scholars Program, Ms. Linet Aguko, the Chief Admissions Officer, Dr. George Lumbasi and the wider Scholars Program team. He spent the day with the Recruitment and Selection team, where he was able to gain a deep understanding of the recruitment strategies tailored to these unique categories. The team also provided detailed insights into the selection and interview process, as well as the onboarding process and the support accorded to the Scholars during their time at the University.

The visit also included a comprehensive campus tour, during which Mr. Sifiso had the opportunity to explore the Disability and Inclusion Center. Here, he met with the Disability and Inclusion Officer, who gave a presentation on the various assistive devices and resources available at the Center. He also had the chance to engage and interact with the Scholars as they used the devices and facilities.

Mr. Sifiso commended the team for their work and noted that he looked forward to more engagements and collaborations with the university focused on the recruitment of these key Scholar demographics.

On Monday, April 15, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa has kicked off a two-week pre-university orientation program for 61 Scholars in Cohort 8 who have joined the university in readiness for their studies commencing this Summer semester, 2024.

The pre-orientation, which will be held over two weeks, is a crucial component of the Scholars' onboarding process, designed to equip them with the essential skills and resources for a successful transition into university life. Additionally, it offers the Scholars an opportunity to connect as a cohort and build a strong support network before classes begin.

The pre-university orientation is specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of Mastercard Foundation Scholars, providing them with a solid foundation to navigate the academic rigors and challenges of university education. From transformative leadership to language assessment and support, Scholars will engage in a diverse range of activities aimed at enhancing their competencies and fostering their personal and academic growth.

In her remarks, the Program Director, Linet Aguko congratulated the Scholars for making it into the Program, noting that it was an opportunity for them to become transformative leaders with a responsibility to give back to their communities.

“As Mastercard Foundation Scholars, you are now in a position that allows you to give back to your communities and become actors of change. By cultivating a strong commitment to your studies and a sense of responsibility, we have no doubt that each of you will reach your full potential and become impactful members of your communities,” she said.

The two-week program will cover a wide range of topics, including academic success strategies, time management, financial literacy, and navigating campus resources. Scholars will also participate in team-building activities and cultural immersion experiences to foster a sense of belonging and community.

By Brenda Odhiambo

On Wednesday, November 22, 2023, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program e-Learning Initiative held its second cohort content development workshop, as part of the ongoing training of faculty for the development of course content of 17 new online programs that will be launched by the university next year.

The three-day workshop brought together faculty from the Chandaria School of Business (Online MBA revamp), the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (Online BSc. Epidemiology and Biostatistics), the School of Science and Technology (Online BSc. in Data Science and Analytics), School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Online BA Criminal Justice Studies) and faculty developing online General Education courses. Other departments represented at the workshop were Quality Assurance, USIU-Africa Online and Mastercard Foundation e-Learning initiative.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Transformative Teaching, Learning and Research (TTLR) Professor Amos Njuguna noted that the workshop was in line with the University’s strategic goals, namely education for complex global challenges and the development of programs that would boost employability and contribute to global citizenship in addition to being fully inclusive.

Prof. Njuguna further emphasized the importance of adopting transformational teaching methods aligned with the evolving needs of students in the digital age. He highlighted the role of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program e-Learning initiative in supporting the delivery of high-quality education at USIU-Africa by bolstering the university’s capacity to deliver high-quality and inclusive online instruction.

In her remarks, the Director, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program e-Learning Initiative at USIU-Africa, Ms. Everlyn Anyal noted that the workshop underscored the need to have a truly inclusive education that would cater to all learners regardless of their backgrounds.

“Right now, with all the challenges going on in the world, many learners are not able to access higher education. As educationalists, we have a right to engage in this exercise that will mitigate these challenges and enable us to take USIU-Africa’s quality education beyond the confines of our institution. Through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program e-Learning Initiative, we have the chance to create innovative online programs that will also contribute to the achievement of Social Development Goal (SDG) 4, inclusive, quality and equitable education and promotion of lifelong learning opportunities for all learners,” she said.

“Online learning has become increasingly vital to higher education. These workshops will therefore ensure that our faculty are equipped with the necessary pedagogical skills to support seamless delivery of online instruction,” she added.
Dr. Philip Machoka, Director, USIU-Africa Online, shared valuable insights into the role of online learning in expanding access to quality learning opportunities. He discussed the innovative strategies employed by the university to ensure that online courses maintain the same high standards as traditional face-to-face classes, focusing on the Online MBA, the only fully-accredited online course in the country. His presentation emphasized the importance of leveraging technology to enhance accessibility, inclusivity and quality delivery in higher education.

Over the course of the workshop, participants engaged in insightful sessions designed to explore innovative approaches to content development, focused on creating transformative and impactful learning experiences for students. By the end of the workshop, the subject matter experts in each of the represented online program areas will be able to develop the complete course Detailed Design Document (DDD), as a roadmap to guide the content development process.

By Brenda Odhiambo

On Wednesday, October 4, 2023, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program e-Learning Initiative at USIU-Africa hosted its first ever Online content development in preparation for the development of 15 fully-online Programs that will be launched by the university.

The three-day workshop brought together faculty and staff members from various schools and departments, including the e-Learning Project, the School of Communication, Cinematic and Creative Arts, the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, General Education, USIU-Africa Online and Quality Assurance.

In her remarks, the Director, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program e-Learning Initiative at USIU-Africa, Ms. Everlyn Anyal noted that the e-Learning Initiative was an opportunity for the University to be pioneers in the provision of online learning both regionally and globally.

“The launch of these programs will make USIU-Africa a pioneer in the provision of online programs, and pave the way for the university to offer a truly global and world-class education accessible by all,” she said.

“Through the development and launch of 15 high quality and inclusive online programs, the eLearning Initiative will make USIU-Africa’s quality higher education accessible to more learners especially those who face additional barriers in accessing education,” she added.

In his remarks, Dr. Philip Machoka, the Director, USIU-Africa Online noted that the workshop’s focus was to formally embark on the process of developing online course content for Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, Master of Arts in Communication Studies and General Education (GE) courses.

“USIU-Africa has invested in scaling its internal expertise in eLearning by providing various certifications to faculty through various trainings. These include Masterclass for teaching online, faculty development programs and Quality Matters (QM) track, which ensure that we have the relevant skills to develop and facilitate the delivery of these online programs,” he added.

He also noted that the launch of the Online MBA positioned USIU-Africa as an industry leader in the regional higher education sector, stating that the university had hosted several institutions looking to develop online programs to benchmarking sessions.

The three-day workshop will culminate in the development of a Detailed Design Document which will guide the development and population of content on the Learning Management System (LMS).

By Cynthia Achola
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Transitions Office, in partnership with the Alumni Relations Office, hosted Mr. Douglas Owino on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 for an alumni mentorship session with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars at USIU-Africa. A total of 25 Mastercard Foundation Scholars from the various cohorts attended the session, which was on how to spot and seize opportunities.

Douglas is currently the African Sub-Sahara Marketing Manager for Curtin University based in Australia. He is an alumnus of USIU-Africa and he studied International Business Administration, with Finance as his major. Douglas graduated in the year 2012 and he went on to pursue further studies in South Korea, through a Korean Government Scholarship. He pursued a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, with a major in International Business.

Douglas is a notable speaker who trains young people on how to secure global opportunities. He has assisted many students to get opportunities in various countries such as Africa, Australia, the United States of America, Europe, and Asia. During the mentorship session with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars, he talked about his experience on how he got the USIU-Africa scholarship and how he got his graduate studies scholarship from the Korean Government. By sharing his experience, the Mastercard Foundation scholars got to know how to look for scholarships in various universities and countries. The session held was very inspiring because, through Douglas’ experience, the Scholars got to see that anything is possible as long as they put in the work and the effort.

At the end of the session, the guest speaker was gracious enough to gift all the attendees with his book, How to Win and Retain scholarships, which he has authored. This book will help the Scholars know how to spot and seize scholarship opportunities.

By Linet Aguko

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program hosted its biannual Scholars Council meeting in Nairobi from February 10 – 12, 2023, at USIU-Africa. The Scholar’s Council is a representative body of Mastercard Foundation Scholars from all Mastercard Foundation partner universities. They serve as student leaders of the Scholars Program at the Mastercard Foundation partner universities, representing and championing the needs of Scholars and liaising with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program teams at each institution, as well as with alumni of the Scholars Program.

The event was attended by 40 Scholar leaders from 25 Partner institutions and several officials from the Mastercard Foundation including Ms. Pauline Gangla, the Head of Scholars Program, Eastern & Southern Africa at Mastercard Foundation. USIU-Africa was represented by Eric Ayamba who is the current Scholar Council Representative for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars at USIU-Africa and Brian Anyika who is the Inclusion Representative for all partner Universities.

By Silas Ooko
Last Friday, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Transitions Office hosted Ms. Cynthia Asimbi, the East Africa Manager of Sciences Po University to an information session that detailed the graduate opportunities available at the university. The session, which was attended by 38 Scholars from Cohorts 1-7.

During the session, Ms. Asimbi shared insights into several key areas, including the array of Graduate programs available at Sciences Po. She also shed light on the graduate admission requirements, the application process, key timelines, eligibility criteria, scholarships and other forms of financial aid that were available to students to support their educational endeavors.

Cynthia's personal journey as a Scholar at Sciences Po added a unique dimension to the session. Her own experiences navigating the academic landscape proved invaluable to the Scholars, who were interested in learning more about the various opportunities that were available to them at the University. Additionally, she also shared more insights from her previous role as a Program Coordinator at the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Sciences Po, which allowed her to support more than 100 African students on their academic journeys and post-university transitions.

Cynthia's passion for Africa's education sector and her unwavering commitment to empowering its youth was evident through her session. She reinforced the notion that success is attainable through dedicated effort and hard work. In closing, she encouraged all attendees to pursue their aspirations with resolute determination, stressing the importance of exploring various scholarship opportunities and strongly recommended Sciences Po for its wealth of resources and support for its students.

By Dolly Mwiti

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Transitions Office had the honor of hosting Dr. Akofa Bentsi-Enchill on Friday, October 13, for a mentorship session with 113 Scholars drawn from the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa. The session covered a variety of topics, including social entrepreneurship, career development, leadership and community building, overcoming challenges and preparing for college and beyond.

Dr. Akofa Bentsi-Enchill is an esteemed Social Entrepreneur and transformative change leader, currently holds the position of Executive Director at the Akua Kuenyehia Foundation. Prior to this, she garnered a decade of professional experience at Barclays Bank (ABSA), where her responsibilities spanned across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Furthermore, she contributed to the field of mentoring as a Program Manager and volunteer with a national mentoring consortium in the United Kingdom.

The Akua Kuenyehia Foundation (AKF), a non-profit organization based in Ghana, was established in honor of H.E. Judge Akua Kuenyehia, the first Vice-President of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, by her children. AKF is on a mission to provide qualitative educational scholarships, offer individualized and focused mentoring sessions, cultivate and develop entrepreneurial abilities, and enhance the life and interpersonal skills of underprivileged and talented Ghanaian girls.

Dr. Akofa Bentsi-Enchill’ s insights and experiences shared during the session proved invaluable in equipping the Scholars with the knowledge and expertise needed to establish successful social ventures, thereby enhancing their understanding of the field of social entrepreneurship.

Since its inception in 2006, AKF has been unwavering in its support of 22 undergraduate students, 8 senior high school students, 47 university graduates, and 4 beneficiaries pursuing postgraduate studies.

By Rebecca Prefina

The Scholar Council at USIU-Africa recently hosted its annual General Assembly, which brings together Scholars to celebrate their achievements and discuss ways to support each other. The assembly, held on November 24, served as an opportunity for the Scholar Council to share their achievements since coming into office on April 12.

Ms. Faith Mugambi, the Scholar Recruitment and Selection Officer, kicked off the event with her remarks, which set the tone for the rest of the engagement.

Following the protocol outlined in the Scholars’ Constitution, the assembly was skillfully moderated by the Financial Advisor, Agnes Bulege, while Rashid Wamela, the Scholar Representative/ President, took the audience through a meticulously organized presentation. This comprehensive session comprised twelve segments, encompassing introductory elements, a reflection on the inauguration, a summary of achievements, discussions on pending issues, insights into extracurricular engagements, and culminated with a documentary highlighting the Council's endeavors over the year. The interactive nature of the assembly encouraged Scholars to pose questions, making it a truly transparent and inclusive discussion.

Emphasizing the Council's commitment to its vision and mission, President Wamela reiterated the essence of being a Scholar-centric Council, dedicated to representing Scholars' interests and serving their needs.

Lenora Kelen, the Vice President, spoke on the Council's efforts in strengthening institutional capacities, introducing new leadership categories such as Country Representatives to aid international Scholars with embassy-related challenges, and fostering academic groups and support systems. She expounded on the Council's collaboration with the Baobab platform, enhancing support during pre-orientation sessions for Cohorts 6 and 7. She also led an in-depth discussion on entrepreneurship and transition initiatives, specifically the Resolution Project, which saw over 50 Scholars participate. Thirteen Scholars progressed to the finals, securing funding for innovative projects, marking a significant stride in fostering entrepreneurial initiatives within the Scholar community.

Rebecca Prefina, the Scholar Support Representative, highlighted the impactful journey of the Scholar Council. She specifically emphasized the success of the vibrant African Day event, which focused on promoting unity through team-building activities and cultural showcases. Notably, the Council significantly expanded its awards program, elevating Best Families from 1 shield to 2, live goats and 3 shields, enhancing Top Performance for Best Countries from 3 to 5 shields, and elevating Outstanding Individuals from 5 medals to 10 gold medals. Additionally, she elaborated on the evolution of the Scholar Connect event, which transformed into a three-day extravaganza, uniting over 700 Scholars. This event served as a benchmark for future interactions, evolving through continuous improvement inspired by valuable Scholar feedback.

Agnes Bulege, the Financial Advisor, delved into the enhancements made in meal provisions and stipends, focusing on initiatives aimed at easing Scholars’ challenges by liberalizing meal cards, implementing cash distribution for meals, and proposing stipend enhancements to alleviate living costs.

David Ndayizeye, the Inclusion representative, emphasized the Council's dedication to supporting Scholars with disabilities, ensuring their integration into all activities and providing essential services such as funding for laundry services, highlighting the Council's commitment to fostering diversity and inclusivity within the Scholar community.

The President also addressed the ongoing efforts of the Scholar Council, encompassing initiatives such as the Scholar-led Sacco registration, a constitutional review, and the implementation of a Swahili language program for international students facing language barriers. These initiatives reflect the Council's commitment to addressing critical issues faced by Scholars.

The Scholar Council also went the extra mile and conducted hostel check-in sessions in collaboration with the Liaison Committee member Rodrigue Irampa, reinforcing their dedication to building strong connections with Scholars, actively addressing concerns, and welcoming suggestions to enhance the Scholars’ experience in their residential areas.

Collaboration between the Scholar Council and the Transitions Team has successfully facilitated Scholar access to the African Career Network (ACN) platform. This platform provides a broad network for Scholars to engage with professionals, access mentorship opportunities, and explore various career pathways.

Furthermore, the Council took proactive measures to ensure international students' embassy registrations by facilitating formal visits to embassies. Scholars interacted with embassy officials, at the Uganda, Zimbabwe, and Zambia embassies, with the final visit to Malawi taking place on December 1, marking the Council's commitment to fostering a supportive environment for international Scholars.

By Brenda Odhiambo

Bottom row from L-R: Titus Ayieko, Lenora Kelen, Lilliane Ashimwe, Virginia Wanjiku, Dorcus Kwagalakwe, Mercy Mulenga, Silas Ooko.
Top row from L-R: Samson Kahindi, Oladayo Olatunji, Pride Nyando, Abdur-Rahman Adeniji, Isaac Wandeto.
Caption: The thirteen Mastercard Foundation Scholars and winners of the 2023 Social Venture Challenge which was held from September 16-17 in Nairobi. The Challenge is part of the Mastercard Foundation’s annual Baobab Summit. Photos: Erick Macharia.

Thirteen Mastercard Foundation Scholars at USIU-Africa have been selected as winners of the 2023 Social Venture Challenge that the Mastercard Foundation recently hosted as part of the annual Baobab Summit, held at the Windsor Hotel in Nairobi.

The Social Venture Challenge, a collaboration between the Mastercard Foundation and the Resolution Project, is an initiative designed to identify young leaders focused on making a difference in their communities and equip them with the resources to implement their ideas through innovative social entrepreneurship.

A total of seven projects from the winning pool of 13 Mastercard Foundation Scholars were shortlisted for this year’s competition, with six projects eventually emerging as the winners of this year’s Challenge, marking the first win for USIU-Africa in the Challenge. The six projects will receive a total of $26,000 to support their initiatives across Inclusion, Agriculture, Entrepreneurship, and Clean Eco-Fuel.

Linet Aguko, Program Director of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa, highlighted the importance of projects and opportunities such as the Social Venture Challenge for Mastercard Foundation Scholars.

“Congratulations to our Mastercard Foundation Scholars who have emerged as the winners of the 2023 Social Venture Challenge. These projects are a reminder that positive change and impact can start with the vision, determination, and a commitment to making the world a better place, one community at a time,” she said.

“The execution of these projects will give our Mastercard Foundation Scholars the opportunity to refine their leadership and entrepreneurial skills as they work towards driving lasting change in their communities,” she added.

For Rashid Wamela and Lenora Kellen, the team behind the MbuziBora initiative, empowering vulnerable widows and single mothers was their top priority when they conceived the project. Their initiative is among the six winning Social Venture Challenge projects.
“We wanted to create a sustainable economic empowerment model involving exotic goat rearing by widows and single mothers, which would ultimately propel them toward self-reliance and building their ability to fend for themselves and their families,” they said.

Since 2016, 267 Mastercard Foundation Scholars have won the Social Venture Challenge. In addition to funding, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars are also provided with mentorship and networking opportunities with global industry leaders. The 2023 winning projects are:

• Poverty and Disability Initiative in Nigeria (PADIN) by Oladayo Olatunji, Samson Kahindi and Lilianne Ashimwe: The project aims to build three telemedicine centers in Karomajigi in Nigeria. The centers will provide consultations, diagnosis, and treatment recommendations.
• Africa Potato Giants by Isaac Wandeto, Virginia Wanjiku and Mercy Mulenga: The project will empower farmers, transforming livelihoods through enhanced potato production.
• MbuziBora by Rashid Wamela and Lenora Kellen: This project aims to empower widows and single mothers in Chebkube village, Bungoma County, Kenya, through exotic goat rearing.
• Saki Youth Resource and Empowerment Center (SYREC) by Abdur-Rahman Adeniji: The center will increase access to higher education for students from underprivileged communities by providing them with tutorials and mentorship to ensure they get admitted into their desired programs.
• Clean Eco-fuel by Titus Ayieko, Silas Ooko, and Pride Nyando: The venture will make clean eco-friendly fuel stones from sugarcane waste in Kisumu County.
• Empower Her Initiative by Dorcus Kwagalakwe: The Empower Her Initiative will provide mentorship and guidance to young mothers and train them on vocational skills.

By Brenda Odhiambo

Last Friday, the transitions office in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa held an internship information session for 22 Scholars in cohorts 2 and 3 of the Bachelor of Pharmacy program. The session, facilitated by Ms. Dolly Mwiti, served as an introduction to the prepare level (non-academic internship), which is taken by all Scholars in 2nd and 3rd year.

The information session delved into the structure, objectives, and expectations of the prepare level internship. Scholars have the opportunity to gain insights into the real-world application of their academic knowledge, setting the stage for a seamless transition from the academic realm to practical, hands-on experiences.

In her remarks, Ms. Mwiti noted that the internship was critical as it provided an avenue for the Scholars to start clarifying their professional interests, as well as building professional networks and basic workplace skills.

The session concluded with a testimonial from Pride Nyando, a Cohort 1 Scholar in the Pharmacy program, who shared his experience during his industrial manufacturing and community pharmacy internship. He shared with the Scholars about the expectations of pharmaceutical organizations, and how best they could align their knowledge to the skills that were needed of them in the workplace.

"My internship was a transformative experience that allowed me to bridge the gap between theory and practice," he shared. "It's crucial for Scholars to recognize the real-world needs of pharmaceutical organizations and actively develop their skills to meet these expectations,” he concluded.

To mark International Day of the Girl Child, we share the stories of two inspiring young women and their admirable efforts to empower other young women and girls.

Dorcus Kwagalakwe
Dorcus Kwagalakwe is a young woman from the Nabitete community in Uganda. Her journey embodies the transformative power of education, and its power to create a better future for girls.

Dorcus’ educational journey was far from easy, especially coming from a family of eight siblings with limited resources. She was able to defy the odds and complete her high school education, thanks to the support of her school, parents, and a scholarship from Fields of Life, an East African organization, which supported her in the completion of her high school education. Her journey to higher education started when she was selected as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar at USIU-Africa, where she is a second-year student in the Bachelor of Science in Accounting program.

Her interactions with peers from different nationalities and backgrounds inspired Dorcus to give back to her community. In 2021, prior to joining USIU-Africa, she founded The Empower Her Initiative, which initially faced financial challenges that hindered its operations. However, her participation in this year’s Social Venture Challenge saw her win funding for the Initiative, that aims to support vulnerable young girls facing violence and abuse due to unplanned pregnancies by providing mentorship, vocational training, and re-enrollment in schools.

Dorcus has also been involved in various community give-back projects, including the provision of bedding to Zion Children’s Home, and desks to Kavilinguni Secondary School in Kenya. Her participation in the Rotaract and Red Cross Club projects underscores her desire to use education as a tool to break down societal barriers, empower girls, and engage communities to bring about positive change.

“My story is an example of the positive impact that young girls and women can have in their communities when they embrace their path with an unshakeable self-belief. Discover resilience in every obstacle and strength in every setback. Dream for the community they want to improve as well as for yourselves. Keep in mind that education is a lighthouse that illuminates the path for others, not only a means of personal improvement. Be the example to demonstrate how you can leave a legacy of change that will improve your communities and the world as a whole by having faith, perseverance, and big aspirations,” says Dorcus.

Lenora Kelen
“Being a Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Scholar has been a transformative journey that has empowered me because it has given me a platform for academic and personal growth. Taking part in various mentorship and leadership programs as well as the exposure to a diverse community of Scholars have given me the confidence and the skills to pursue my education and career skills with vigour,” says Lenora Kelen, a third-year student at USIU-Africa majoring in International Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. Lenora, who hails from Cameroon, is the co-founder of MbuziBora, a project founded in 2023 that aims to empower widows and single mothers through exotic goat rearing. The project, which was among those that won the 2023 Social Venture Challenge was conceived to promote gender equality, women's financial independence, and empowerment in her community.

A passionate advocate for girl child education, Lenora works tirelessly to break down barriers and create opportunities for girls to access quality education, which she does by serving as a mentor to young girls and sharing her insights on how they can also pursue their educational and career aspirations.

After graduation, Lenora hopes to continue using her knowledge and skills to contribute to her community and country, fostering positive change through ethical business practices.

“To the young girls out there, embrace your dreams with unwavering determination and let no obstacle deter you. Education unlocks opportunities, and passion and commitment are key assets. Seek knowledge to enrich yourself and others, and strive to be a change and empowerment beacon. Be resilient, and courageous, and never underestimate your potential,” she says.

The Masterclass for Teaching Online is a two-week online course which is part of a series of professional development courses required for Faculty and Staff involved in online course development at USIU-Africa. USIU-Online adopted this course from Arizona State University in early 2023. To date, USIU Online has successfully conducted six cohorts of the Masterclass, led by certified trainers who are members of the USIU Online learning community. Funding for the course is provided by the Mastercard Scholar’s Program eLearning Initiative Workstream B. Over 100 faculty members and 20 non-teaching staff have completed the course so far, where the first cohort finished in February 2023.

Cohort 7 began on Thursday, April 4th, 2024, with 40 participants expected to successfully finish the course over the next two weeks. This fully-online course aims to impart online pedagogy and instructional design skills. The course runs from Blackboard LMS and is facilitated by the USIU-Africa eLearning team. Participants engage in activities using selected technologies, designed to enhance learner engagement and incorporate general online learning principles and strategies. Cohort 7 Instructors are Professor Henry Wambuii and Dr. Wanjira Kinuthia, both distinguished academics with extensive experience in learning design and online education pedagogy, who have previously served as Faculty Advisors in Workstream A of the Mastercard Scholars eLearning Initiative.

Last Friday, USIU Online launched a state-of-the-art recording studio to support online content development for the online degree programs currently in development. The studio, located at the School of Graduate Studies, boasts advanced recording capabilities, allowing faculty to produce engaging and informative video lectures, presentations, and other multimedia content that will contribute to an enhanced online learning experience.

"The launch of the studio is a testament to our unwavering dedication to providing a world-class online education," said Dr. Philip Machoka, Director, USIU Online. " This launch holds particular significance as it marks a pivotal step forward in our ambitious project for online content development, which will drive the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program e-Learning Initiative forward,” he added.

This development comes on the heels of other significant milestones for USIU-Africa's online learning initiatives, including the recent site inspection visit by the Commission for University Education (CUE) to evaluate the university's readiness to launch six new online programs and three blended Programs across undergraduate and post-graduate levels.

With the launch of the studio, USIU-Africa is well-positioned to deliver exceptional online learning experiences for students across the continent and beyond.

By Brenda Odhiambo

Last week, USIU-Africa was represented at the Zero Project Conference (ZeroCon24), which took place at the UN Offices in Vienna, Austria. The conference is a unique global meeting place to innovate for disability inclusion. This year's topics were Inclusive Education, and ICT, with sessions revolving around the 77 Zero Project Awardees’ innovative solutions, complemented by contributions from Inclusive Education and ICT Experts, and representatives of the global Disability Inclusion Community.

Mr. Eannes Ongus, Director of Advancement & Partnerships at USIU-Africa, shared the university's ongoing commitment to creating an inclusive campus environment. Emphasizing the high priority placed on accessibility and support for students with disabilities, Mr. Ongus highlighted some of the university's key successes in this area, including: the establishment of a Disability Inclusion Resource Centre filled with assistive technology and staffed with sign language interpreters, disability experts and other support staff, mainstreaming of a Disability and Inclusion Policy, which has transformed the university into a truly inclusive institution, the recruitment of students with disabilities, with 72 students with disabilities currently enrolled at the university, which has been achieved through the support of key partner institutions, including the Mastercard Foundation and Light for the World and the establishment of a Sign Language Club, which has membership from across the campus community.

The session also featured various speakers who highlighted different strategies to enhance university inclusion in their universities in Austria, Hungary, the Netherlands, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United States of America.

"For universities to truly embody inclusivity, it requires a multifaceted approach. This involves investing in capacity building initiatives, allocating sufficient budgetary resources to support the promotion of on-campus accessibility, establishing clear policies and procedures around Disability Inclusion, fostering strategic partnerships, and unwavering support from organizational leadership,” he said.

A recording of the session can be watched here.

By CTW Team

USIU-Africa and the Mastercard Foundation formally commissioned the second cohort of 48 Scholars under the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, bringing the total number of Scholars recruited under the program to 70. The Scholars are drawn from a pool of 3,500 applicants drawn from various parts of the country, as well as from the African continent. So far, the program has recruited 68 percent women and 33 percent male into the program with 48 percent of the Scholars are enrolled in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and 42 percent are enrolled in the Humanities program respectively.

Last year, the Mastercard Foundation partnered with USIU-Africa to launch the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa, which will see 1,000 students from across the continent educated over 10 years at a cost of $63.2 million (Kshs. 6.8 billion).

The Program will recruit a diverse student body, which will include 700 women, 250 refugees, displaced youth and 70 persons with disability who will be will be placed in 11 programs which will provide skills training, leadership development, counselling, mentoring, internships and career services. The program will also educate, prepare and transition young people from disadvantaged backgrounds into the labor market as leaders who can inspire socio-economic transformation.

In his remarks, USIU-Africa’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Paul Zeleza noted that the Scholars Program was aligned with the University’s mission of promoting discovery and application of knowledge and transitioning young people into gainful employment.

“We are glad to be part of Mastercard Foundation’s expanding global network of partners committed to developing a generation of African leaders who will use their knowledge and skills to lead change in their communities, and contribute to meaningful transformation across the continent,” he said.
“As an institution, we are honored to be part of the Scholars Program, and it is indeed gratifying to see that we have managed to recruit our second cohort of students, who will have the chance to experience a truly global education here at USIU-Africa,” he added.

Mastercard Foundation’s Head of Scholars Program, Prof. Phil Cotton congratulated the Scholars on their achievement, noting that they were now on their way to becoming catalysts for change who would now be responsible for uplifting their communities.

“As recipients of the Mastercard Foundation Program Scholarships, you are now in a position that allows you to give back to your communities, and serve as actors of change. You are our ambassadors and role models for young people across the country and across the continent,” he said.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa will provide full-cost scholarships to young Africans who are first-time undergraduate degree-seeking applicants. By completion of their studies, scholars will be required to lead changes in their communities and contribute to meaningful transformation across the continent, having been equipped with internationally recognized and locally applicable qualifications.

The first cohort of Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program students attend the Awards Evening held to welcome them to USIU-Africa.

By Brenda Odhiambo, Taigu Muchiri and Laurie Armstrong

USIU-Africa formally welcomed the inaugural cohort of Mastercard Foundation Scholars, made up of 24 students drawn from across the country. This follows the announcement of a partnership between USIU-Africa and the Mastercard Foundation, which will see 1,000 high-performing students to receive quality education and leadership development over the next 10 years under the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

Through the Scholars Program, the students will receive holistic student support, including comprehensive scholarships, leadership development, and access to internships and industry-driven career services. Following the launch of the program, the University received 6,077 applications from hopeful Scholars across the country, from which the best 24 were selected.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Chancellor, Dr. Manu Chandaria started by thanking the Mastercard Foundation for selecting USIU-Africa as a partner in order to collectively achieve the goal of offering quality education to students. He called upon the Scholars to take advantage of this opportunity and become the best not only in the country but also in East Africa.

“I urge each one of you to embody the qualities of integrity, accountability, humility and the ability to serve your communities as you begin your journey here at USIU-Africa. These are the same values that have transformed this institution into a world class university,” he said.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Paul Zeleza noted that in addition to the partnership being a milestone in the University’s history, it also presents the University with an opportunity to continue moulding the futures of bright Scholars from the continent.

“All over the world, each nation’s greatest resource is its people, and there is no better way to invest in your people than through the provision of opportunities and resources like access to quality education to position them to compete on the global stage. I am pleased that USIU-Africa will have the opportunity to continue moulding some of the best and brightest minds from across the continent to advance Africa’s development,” he said.

According to a report by the African Development Bank, one of the reasons behind the low contribution of human capital to labour productivity in Africa is the mismatch between the skills and the education that the youth have, and the needs of the employers. The report further notes that one of the critical steps that countries on the continent can take to correct this is by integrating education and skill development strategies into development plans, and ensuring that youth develop critical intangible skills critical to being part of a high quality workforce.

This sentiment was echoed by Daniel Hailu, Regional Head, Southern and Eastern Africa at the Mastercard Foundation, who noted that now more than ever, there was a need to ensure that the youth were equipped with the right skills to create solutions to the challenges on the continent.

He also noted that Mastercard Foundation continued to make investments in education based on the positive impacts that its programs, including the Scholars Program, continue to have on the lives of the Scholars, their families, and their community.

“One of our key tenets is ensuring that we support academically talented students from disadvantaged communities to attend quality educational institutions and develop the knowledge and skills they need to join the next generation of ethical and transformative leaders. Our vision is that these young people will continue to make a lasting impact in their communities, and lead the transformation towards inclusive prosperity,” he added.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is an initiative to develop Africa’s next generation of leaders by giving students, whose talent and promise exceed their financial resources, an opportunity to complete their education. The Program is a growing commitment and to date, the Program has committed over USD 1 billion to supporting the education and leadership development of more than 37,000 young people.

By Brenda Odhiambo

USIU-Africa and the Mastercard Foundation have today welcomed the third cohort under the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. A total of 82 female students were recruited into the cohort, which also saw 19 male students join the Scholars Program.
Last year, the Mastercard Foundation partnered with USIU-Africa to launch the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa, which will see 1,000 students from across the continent educated over 10 years at a cost of $63.2 million (Kshs. 6.8 billion).

The program is on track to recruit a diverse student body, which so far includes 127 and 42 male in the categories of young women (75%), young men (25%), refugees/displaced Youth (13%) and, persons with disability (5%) who have been placed in 11 programs providing skills training, leadership development, counselling, mentoring, internships and career services. The program is also educating, preparing and transitioning young people from disadvantaged backgrounds into the labour market as leaders of socio-economic transformation in their communities.

In her remarks, USIU-Africa’s Interim Vice Chancellor, Prof. Freida Brown noted that the Scholars Program was in line with the University’s goal of providing a holistic education that would equip learners with the knowledge to position themselves at the forefront of economic and social change not only in Kenya, but across the world.

“The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa is a comprehensive and holistic program that supports students to become transformative leaders who will make impactful change in their communities. We are proud as an institution to be part of this prestigious program which will equip African students with the relevant tools to build a brighter future for the continent,” she said.

“The Scholars Program is designed to give academically talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds an opportunity to build and strengthen their academic and leadership potential. As Scholars, you are now global citizens who will have the right tools and knowledge to change lives within your communities and across borders,” he said.

The third cohort of Scholars was drawn from a pool of 5000 applicants drawn from various parts of the country, and from 19 African countries. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa provides full-cost scholarships to young Africans who are first-time undergraduate degree-seeking applicants.

Upon completion of their studies, the Scholars will be required to lead changes in their communities and contribute to meaningful transformation across the continent, having been equipped with internationally recognized qualifications.

By Brenda Odhiambo and Mimi Koranteng

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa held the Scholars Award Evening to formally welcome the fourth cohort; a total of 86 Scholars, 6 of whom are differently-abled and are drawn from different parts of the country and 13 different African countries joined the University during the May semester. The Award Evening forms part of a series of events organized by Mastercard Foundation partner universities including USIU-Africa as part of Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program’s 10-year anniversary celebrations across the globe in transforming the lives of young men and women particularly in Africa lead, pursue their aspirations, and enrich their communities.

Since the inception of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa in July 2020, the Program has recruited 254 Scholars, with 74 percent of them being women, with the remaining 26 percent being male. 50.8 percent of the Scholars are enrolled in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs and 49.2 percent are enrolled in the Humanities and Social Sciences programs respectively.

In her comments, the Interim Vice Chancellor, Prof. Freida Brown noted that the selection of the fourth cohort underpinned USIU-Africa’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

“We are proud to have recruited a diverse and inclusive student body, which includes 5.5 percent of young men and women who are differently-abled which includes physical/mobility disabilities, visual impairment and hard hearing impairment. Our goal is to recruit 10 percent (100 students) with disabilities over 6-year period,” she said.

“As the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program marks its tenth year, I am confident that our continued collaboration and our joint passion in imparting knowledge, mentoring the next generation of leaders and providing transformative education will change Africa and the world,” she added.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program was established ten years ago as an initiative to develop Africa’s next generation of leaders by giving students whose talent and promise exceed their financial resources and opportunity to complete their education. Launched with nine partners and a first cohort of 145 Scholars, the Scholars Program has enabled over 41,000 young people to pursue secondary or tertiary education and brought together a robust Pan-African and global network of partners. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program will double its target by 2030 to reach 100,000 Scholars, as it accompanies the next generation of diverse young African leaders and higher education institutions on their journey to creating a new era of equitable and inclusive prosperity and growth.

In his comments, Prof. Philip Cotton, Director, Human Capital and Head of Scholars Program, Mastercard Foundation, noted that “the Scholars Program, now in its 10th year of existence, had grown to be one of the largest scholarship initiatives of its kind, enabling over 41,000 young people to access learning and leadership development opportunities. Welcoming the 86 new Scholars at USIU-Africa, he reminded them that they had become part of a heritage and community marked by common values and a commitment to transforming their communities:
“More than 17,000 of these individuals have graduated from this program and gone on to become leaders in their families, workplaces, and communities. They are supporting their siblings. Lifting up their families. Inspiring other young people. Creating jobs. And exhibiting excellence to drive a new narrative about what it means to be young and African.”

In order to expand and strengthen the Program, last year, USIU-Africa in partnership with the Arizona State University and Mastercard Foundation launched the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program E-learning initiative, which will enable more than 600,000 university students to successfully pursue their studies online, from anywhere across Africa over the next five years.

Last Friday, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa hosted a team building session for its Cohort 8 Scholars, aimed at creating a stronger sense of community among the new Scholars and the Program team. The event, which was followed by a dinner at Lamada Hotel, provided a fun and engaging platform for the Scholars to interact, collaborate, and build lasting relationships.

The team-building session, held at USIU-Africa, saw Scholars get divided into groups and engage in various challenges and games that encouraged them to work together, solve problems, and support each other. These activities not only helped break the ice but also provided an opportunity for Scholars to learn more about each other.

Following the team-building activities, the Scholars were treated to a welcome dinner at the Lamada Hotel, which provided a space for them to further interact with their fellow Scholars and Program staff on a more personal level. In attendance at the dinner were the Program Director, Ms. Linet Aguko, the Director, Advancement and Partnerships, Mr. Eannes Ongus and the Chief Admissions Officer, Dr. Lumbasi.

In his remarks to the Scholars, the Director, Advancement and Partnerships, Mr. Eannes Ongus welcomed the Scholars to the University community and urged them to make the best of their experience.

“Each of you here has what it takes to become the leaders of tomorrow. You are set to begin an extraordinary journey as Mastercard Foundation Scholars with gifted youth from all across the continent, and it is our hope that you will go on to become transformative, impactful leaders in your communities,” he said.

By Aquillah Onchana and Eunice Mwadzoya
Last Friday, USIU-Africa hosted a high-level delegation from The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation (IAF). Led by the Secretary General Mr. Martin Houghton-Brown, the delegation included representatives from both IAF and the President's Award Kenya (PA-K), the national Award operator in Kenya. The delegation also included Nellie Munala (CEO-President’s Award-Kenya), Rachel Kamana (Africa Coordinator-IAF and Project Lead for Africa), Maria Birgen (Deputy Director Programmes-PA-K), Wangari Kaburi (Project Lead-PA-K), and Neddy Mbori (Communications-PA-K), who visited the university to observe the implementation of the Going for Gold Project.

The visit commenced with a courtesy call to the university’s Management Board, who had the opportunity to engage with the delegation in regard to the ongoing collaboration between USIU-Africa and The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation, highlighting the importance of youth empowerment initiatives in shaping future leaders.

"We are delighted to welcome this distinguished delegation from the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award," said Dr. Omolola Odubekun, the Interim Vice Chancellor. "The Award plays a vital role in fostering leadership, self-reliance, and a sense of adventure in young people, and we are committed to supporting its growth in USIU-Africa," she said.

In his comments, the Secretary General, Mr. Martin Houghton-Brown noted that the Award was crucial in enabling youth to harness the power of their potential, which would position them to make a difference in their communities and take control of their futures.

"The Award provides young people with the opportunity to develop valuable life skills that will benefit them throughout their lives," he said. "We are confident that our partnership with USIU-Africa will help us to reach even more young people in Kenya and empower them to make a positive impact on their communities."

Additionally, in an effort to strengthen collaboration and enrich participant experiences, the team also engaged with the Award leaders and participants. During these interactions, Award leaders shared their insights into guiding and supporting participants, while the participants shared their personal development journeys and engagements in the Award.

The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award is a global non-formal education framework that challenges young people to develop their skills, talents, and experiences. The program operates in over 130 countries and territories, with over 1.3 million participants currently enrolled. USIU-Africa is among the centers implementing the 'Going for Gold' project, which is the highest level of the Duke of Edinburgh International Award program.

The initiative is currently in its fifth month of execution, with Gold participants currently engaged in skills development, voluntary service, and physical activities for a duration of 12 months. Following this period, they have the option to choose a specific activity to focus on for an additional 6 months. Later stages of the project will include the adventurous journey and the Gold Residential project.

By Brenda Odhiambo

On Monday, October 30, USIU-Africa hosted Mastercard Foundation President and CEO, Reeta Roy. The visit was an opportunity for the Foundation and the University to discuss the partnership between the Foundation and the University through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and share experiences.

Reeta was accompanied by Sewit Ahderom, a Mastercard Foundation Board Member; David Bagenda, Country Director for the Mastercard Foundation in Kenya; Ivy Mwai, Head of the Scholars Program Network at the Foundation; and Catherine Ndioo, Program Communications Country Lead for the Mastercard Foundation in Kenya.

During the visit, Reeta was able to engage with the University’s Leadership team, as well as the entire Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program body at USIU-Africa, including the Scholar Council leaders on campus. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars had the opportunity to share their experience at USIU-Africa and within the Scholar network.

The visit also featured a fireside chat with the Scholars, during which Reeta and the Scholars spoke on several issues, including academics, entrepreneurship, leadership, as well as the overall vision of the Mastercard Foundation in relation to the creation of opportunities for young people.

During the session, Reeta shared a few experiences that helped shape her journey over the course of her career, which also led to her role as the President and CEO of the Mastercard Foundation. She urged Scholars to constantly seek ways to overcome their challenges, noting that opportunities would always present themselves as long as they did the work.

“Don’t be afraid to start on the idea you have. Your idea is going to grow; you just need to start working on it. You will be questioned, you will be challenged and tested, but that is how you will learn. Don’t be afraid to start, and remember that it is okay not to have everything figured out when you start,” said Reeta.

“What gives me heart is the kind of Scholars we have in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. You are exactly what any employer, including the Mastercard Foundation, would look for. Your experiences, exposure, and leadership are what the world is looking for. Your knowledge is exactly what the world needs,” she added.

The day’s highlight was the Scholars Awards Evening, during which the University community formally welcomed the Scholars in Cohort 6 and 7, in addition to recognizing the achievements of 38 top Scholars in the areas of academics, leadership and community service. This year, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa welcomed 383 Scholars from 19 different African countries, with Scholars from Eritrea and Benin joining the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa for the first time.

In her remarks, USIU-Africa’s Interim Vice Chancellor Dr. Omolola Omole-Odubekun expressed her gratitude for the partnership between Mastercard Foundation and USIU-Africa, noting that it was critical to nurturing future leaders on the African continent and beyond.

“I am deeply moved by the talent, dedication, and passion I have witnessed in each of you here today. USIU-Africa and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program are committed to enabling young African Scholars to realize their full potential, and the dedication of these students to leadership, academics, and community service is a testament to the bright future of Africa,” she said.

“You are the future and the now, and we are proud to be here to celebrate with each of you,” she added. Her sentiments were echoed by Ivy Mwai, who noted that the Foundation’s representatives were moved by the reception they had received from Scholars as well as USIU-Africa. She noted that she felt confident that the Scholars would go on to do transformative work within their communities.

Speaking during the session, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Director at USIU-Africa, Linet Aguko, urged Scholars to take the opportunity that had been presented to them because of the Scholarship and make the most of it.

“I am confident that with the support you will receive from the university community and its partners, coupled with the numerous opportunities and enriching experiences you'll encounter at USIU-Africa, you have the potential to turn your dreams into reality. USIU-Africa offers you an education that can truly take you places,” she said.

During the Scholars Awards Evening, Divine Mugisha, who was recognized as the Top Scholar in Cohort 6, shared her remarks during the ceremony, saying that “receiving this award is not just a personal achievement but a recognition of the support and opportunities that USIU-Africa and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program have provided. It is a reminder that we have a responsibility to give back to our communities and inspire positive change."

By Philip Machoka

Dr. Philip Machoka, Director of e-Learning, USIU-Africa Online, recently took the stage at the Online Learning Consortium (OLC) Accelerate 2023 conference in Washington DC to present on "A Model for Success in e-Learning for Africa." The conference, with the theme "Creating Connections: Uniting Learners through Collaboration and Creativity”, served as a platform to showcase collaborative efforts and innovative solutions in the realm of online education.

Dr. Machoka's presentation was co-authored with Prof. Onesimus Otieno, a former Carnegie Fellow at USIU-Africa and the Lead Trainer for Online Pedagogy with the Mastercard Foundation e-Learning Initiative. Together, they highlighted a model that underscores the vital role of partnerships between various entities, including Mastercard Foundation, Arizona State University, USIU-Africa, Quality Matters, Media-Valet, the Carnegie Foundation, and nine other universities spanning Africa, the Middle East, and Central America.

This scalable model aims to build capacity in Instructional Design and Online Pedagogy, ultimately facilitating the delivery of high-quality online academic programs at the university level across the African continent. Their mission aligns perfectly with the Mastercard Foundation's Young Africa Works strategy, which aims to empower 30 million African youth with dignified and fulfilling job opportunities by the year 2030 and so far, the initiative has already touched the lives of 7 million young Africans.

The presentation was made possible through the support of the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program (CADFP) and is a significant part of their roster of key events slated for 2024.

This presentation by Dr. Machoka and Prof. Otieno is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in advancing e-learning in Africa. Their work signifies a significant step towards ensuring quality education is accessible to all.

By Brenda Odhiambo

Muchesia B. Anyika is a third year (junior) student at USIU-Africa studying International Relations, and is also a Mastercard Foundation Scholar. He was recently featured in the October issue of the Platform for Law, Justice and Society magazine. He authored an article on Kenya’s contradicting position on the recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).

The article discusses Kenya's position on the recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and the political intrigues and interplay of political unfolding between SADR and Morocco. The Polisario Front established the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) on February 27, 1976, in Bir Lehlu, Western Sahara. Although the SADR administration now only has jurisdiction over around 20–25% of Western Sahara, which was a former Spanish colony, SADR asserts sovereignty over the whole region.

Kenya's foreign policy towards SADR and Morocco is determined by many actors, including and not limited to the Presidency. The article reflects on the conflicting statements made by President Ruto and Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Ambassador Macharia Kamau regarding Kenya's stance on the SADR. The President initially announced that Kenya had rescinded its recognition of the SADR and initiated steps to wind down the entity's presence in the country. However, Amb. Kamau later stated that Kenya's position on the SADR is fully aligned with the decision of the Organization of African Unity and the AU Charter, which calls for the unquestionable and inalienable right of a people to self-determination.

The article uses the rational actor model and bureaucratic models of decision-making to explain Kenya's position on the SADR. The rational actor model suggests that Kenya sought to maximize its available alternatives while adhering to the charters of both the AU and UN, in a bid to cement its image as a global player. The bureaucratic model, on the other hand, highlights the role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in clarifying Kenya's stance and appeasing both sides of the dispute to avoid diplomatic problems.

The article concludes that Kenya's contradictory position on the recognition of the SADR serves as a lesson on the practical application of decision-making models and the role of international law in shaping state behavior. It highlights the complexity of foreign policy decision-making and the importance of aligning with international organizations' decisions while considering a state's own interests. Additionally, the article shows that the rules determine why the state acts in a particular way. Therefore, it is essential for states to re-evaluate their foreign policy decisions to ensure they align with international law while also serving their interests.

Muchesia is also a published author, who launched his debut novel, Stars Aligned in January this year. The fictional novel’s plot focuses on the experiences of Robert, the book’s protagonist as an orphan and person with disability.

Read the full article here.

By Brenda Odhiambo

Last month, USIU-Africa was represented by Ms. Linet Aguko, the Program Director of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa at the second Global Refugee Forum (GRF), which was held in Geneva from December 13-15, 2023.

The Forum, held every four years, brought together 4,000 delegates from 165 countries, including refugee leaders, heads of state, governments, businesses and non-profit leaders from around the world who came together to address the urgent challenges and long-term solutions needed for more than 114 million displaced people, of whom 36 million are refugees.

During the Forum, the Program Director spoke about the efforts towards ensuring inclusivity in the recruitment of Refugee Scholars in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa. The Program, now in its fourth year of implementation, has a total of 772 Scholars recruited from 27 African countries. Out of this number, 16% are refugees and displaced y*outh.

Additionally, the university, alongside other Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program partners, Ashesi University and the University of Pretoria pledged to support and facilitate access to higher education opportunities for refugees and displaced people across the African continent. As a technical partner, World University Service of Canada (WUSC) will support these institutions to increase inclusion of refugee students, elevate the voices of refugees and displaced people, and facilitate access to networking, internships, and mentorship opportunities.

The three-day forum ended with over $2.2billion pledged to improve the lives of refugees and their host communities. The Global Refugee Forum is the world’s largest international gathering on refugees designed to support the practical implementation of the objectives set out in the Global Compact on Refugees, a framework for more predictable and equitable responsibility-sharing among states, adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2018.

Additional reporting by UNHCR and the World University Service of Canada (WUSC).