Undergraduate Kenya Scholarships – Pathways

Scholarship Overview

PATHWAYS Leadership for Progress is an international leadership training program for promising secondary school graduates from developing countries. PATHWAYS believes that the best solutions come from individuals who have first-hand experience of the problems they are facing. As such, it recognizes the ability of young student leaders living in deprived conditions in developing insightful and practical project ideas about how to make life better in their own country. The overall goal of the program is to produce leaders who are equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Specifically, PATHWAYS aims to:

• Develop the student’s leadership ability through supporting their efforts to improve their community;
• Facilitate the education and encourage career development of individuals who are highly qualified academically, motivated, and dedicated to improving their country
• Provide mentoring to establish the future leader in his/her career and to assure the successful implementation of the community project; and,
• Foster lifelong civic-minded collaborations among youth from different ethnicities.

Host Schools

• Besides participating in the leadership program, PATHWAYS provide assistance to students accepted to the University of Nairobi or Kenyatta University under the regular/module I programme.

Fields of Study

• Being a program aimed to produce leaders in developing countries, it supports fields that improve the conditions of communities that the students belong to.
• Graduates of the program have pursued varied fields from health and sanitation, education, economic alleviation, fisheries and agriculture,  renewable energy, and environmental protection.

What does the scholarship cover?

• PATHWAYS offers modest annual awards ($500) to selected students to support them int their community projects as well as assist them with university fees of the above mentioned schools.
• More specifically, the program will cover most of the student’s university expenses toward a Bachelor’s degree not covered by any government or private grants.
• The financial support will be a cost-sharing plan between PATHWAYS and the student inclusive of two semesters per year contingent upon the student’s satisfactory performance at the end of each academic year.

How many scholarships are given?

The number of scholars chosen is based upon available funds. Presently, PATHWAYs have produced nine (9) graduates and are supporting eleven (11) scholars.

Which countries are targeted?

Leadership training recipients are currently only available for residents of Kenya.

Am I Eligible to Apply?

PATHWAYS scholars are chosen based on meeting the following criteria:

• Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) overall grade average of B+ or higher
• Financial need
• Strong interpersonal and educational skills
• Project proposal written in partnership with a community group
• Documentation attesting the student’s abilities (eg. recommendation letters, school reportsm, etc.)
• Acceptance letters from University of Nairobi or Kenyatta Universit
• Capacity to shoulder a portion of the university expenses reflected through a prepared cost-share plan

How to Apply – Next Steps

• PATHWAYS announces the start of its application process through secondary school teachers and non-profit organizations such as The Kenya AIDS NGOs Consortium (KANCO.)
• Applications are reviewed in September and a select group of students are asked to come to Nairobi for an interview with the Vice President for Kenya and the PATHWAYS student coordinator.
• A final decision on the Kenya Scholarships leadership training recipients is made in September.
• As a summary, below is a checklist of requirements:

o Completed application form
o Copy of KCPE/KCSE
o Project proposal for chosen community including a letter of support from community group
o Three (3)  letters of reference
o Copy of acceptance letters and/or accomplished application form to the University of Nairobi or Kenyatta University
o Photo of self
o Two one-pager essays (one to describe personal background, one to indicate how he/she can contribute to the PATHWAYS program)

Closing Date

• Applications for the October 2013 entry to the universities above must be sent by August 31.

How do I get more information?

For more information, interested applicants can go to the following links:

• PATHWAYS Leadership for Progress
• PATHWAYS Application Form