Equity Group Foundation starts selection process for 2021 Wings to Fly and Elimu Scholarships

Equity Group Foundation (EGF) has commenced the selection process for the 2021 Wings to Fly scholarship program in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and the German government through KfW. Additionally, a similar process has started for the 2021 Elimu scholarship program, a program sponsored by the World Bank and the Ministry of Education and implemented through EGF.

The two programs will offer a combined total of 10,500 scholarships to academically promising scholars from needy backgrounds who sat and excelled in the 2020 KCPE examinations.

The selected Wings to Fly scholars will form the twelfth cohort and will join a total of 17,304 scholars who have benefitted from comprehensive scholarships offered through the program while the successful Elimu scholars will form the second cohort and will join the existing 9,000 scholars who were commissioned last year. This brings the total scholarships so far implemented by EGF to 36,804.

Academically promising 2020 KCPE finalists from all 47 counties who scored a minimum of 350 marks and who come from needy backgrounds can apply for the 2021 Wings to Fly scholarships by logging online to  to create a new account on the Wings to Fly portal and fill in the 2021 application form for consideration.

While 2020 KCPE finalists from financially challenged backgrounds who sat their examinations at public primary schools and are from 110 targeted Sub-Counties and fifteen urban centres with informal settlements and scored a minimum of 280 marks can make applications for the 2020/2021 Elimu scholarships by logging on to the Elimu portal to create a new account on the Elimu portal and fill in the 2020/2021 application form for consideration. For affirmative action, candidates who are from vulnerable and marginalized communities and those with special needs and disabilities who attained below 280 marks may be considered.

For both scholarship programs, scholars, guardians and parents who are unable to access the forms on the portal can get physical scholarship application forms at their nearest Equity branch or Equity Agent and must submit these for consideration on or before 31 May 2021.

The deadline for all scholarship application is 31 May 2021 whether submitted through the application portals or through Equity bank branches or Equity Agents.

Commenting on the commencement of the selection process, Equity Group Foundation Executive Chairman, Dr. James Mwangi reiterated the Group’s commitment to supporting Kenyans to enjoy access to education opportunities through its scholarship programs. “As Equity, we truly value the role of the various partners that we work with at the community level to ensure that our selection process is fair and that a vast majority of Kenyans get to hear about the programs and are guided appropriately on how to apply for the scholarships. This year, we wish to encourage interested applicants to embrace the use of the digital portals as this will minimize paper handling and will thus contribute to our efforts of minimizing the risk of exposure to COVID-19,” said Dr. Mwangi.

Dr Mwangi has also appealed to Kenyans of goodwill who know a needy bright child anywhere in Kenya who has met the application criteria to help them apply for the scholarship. “There are many needy and bright children who have attained the eligible marks and may not hear of this opportunity. I appeal to all Kenyans of goodwill to support this initiative by helping such children to access the application forms from their nearby Equity bank branch or Agent so that they can stand a chance of securing a scholarship for their secondary school education,” said Dr Mwangi said.

The submission deadline of 31 May 2021 will allow the Wings to Fly Community Scholarship Selection Board (CSSB) in all 47 counties and the Elimu Community Scholarship Advisory Committee (CSAC) in each of the 110 sub counties and 15 urban centres ample time to review and scrutinize the applications as well as conduct face to face interviews and assessments before awarding the most deserving scholars the scholarship opportunities.

The CSSB comprises of relevant key personalities in the community and is chaired by the Sub-County Director of Education and coordinated by Equity Bank Branch Manager while the CSAC comprises of relevant key personalities in the community and will be chaired by the Deputy County Commissioner and coordinated by Equity Branch Manager.

The Wings to Fly Scholarship program, a signature program in EGF’s Education and Leadership Development pillar, provides comprehensive secondary school scholarships to academically promising, yet financially disadvantaged youth. Since 2010, 17,304 scholarships have been offered to scholars selected from across the country through community scholarship selection boards. The scholarship covers school fees, transport, books, pocket money, mentoring, psychosocial support, and leadership development. Mastercard Foundation has been EGF’s anchor partner in supporting worthy scholars lacking resources to carry their academic dreams forward since 2010. Other former and current partners include USAID, UKAID, and the German Government through KfW. Graduates of Wings to Fly have an additional opportunity to access financing from EGF to pursue technical courses at reputable TVET institutions across Kenya.

The Elimu scholarship program is run by EGF on behalf of the Ministry of Education and the Government of Kenya. With financial support from the World Bank, the program will provide 18,000 comprehensive secondary school scholarships to primary school graduates from 110 sub-counties and 15 urban centers with informal settlements. In 2020, the 1st cohort of 9,000 beneficiaries reported to Form One and the remaining scholars will be identified to join secondary school this year.

Equity Group Foundation (EGF), the corporate implementing foundation of Equity Group Holdings Plc, has as its mission to champion the transformation of lives and livelihoods for 100m people in Africa by 2024 through the design and implementation of innovative programs that leverage Equity Group’s infrastructure and partnerships to create shared value. Established in 2008 as the Group’s social engine, the Foundation delivers economic opportunities, capacity, tools, and technologies that enable individuals and businesses to increase productivity, resilience and share in socio-economic growth. EGF responds to the continuum of issues that challenge the socio-economic advancement of the people of Africa, especially low-income individuals, and families. EGF’s Creating Shared Value [CSV] strategy provides social development initiatives in Education and Leadership Development, Food and Agriculture, Health, Financial Inclusion and Entrepreneurship Development, Energy and Environment and Social Protections for the most vulnerable citizens. EGF’s programs are underpinned by technology, innovation, and synergy as a central means to launch, nurture, and scale up Africa’s next generation of successful leaders and entrepreneurs delivered to all communities in which Equity has operations.

Wings to Fly scholarships targets all counties in Kenya while the Elimu Scholarships targeted sub-counties under the Secondary Education Quality Improvement Project (SEQIP).