International NGO catalyzes youth as agents of change through education and mentorship
NAIROBI, KENYA – CFK Africa, an international nonprofit with offices in Kenya and the U.S., named 10 new recipients of its scholarship program designed to empower students in informal settlements to succeed throughout all four years of high school, bringing its total number of currently funded scholars to 92.
CFK Africa’s Lux Sit and James E. Rogers scholarships uniquely support promising young students in Kenya throughout their secondary school education. Scholars receive sustainable assistance with school fees, leadership training, and career guidance through CFK Africa and connect with alumni who serve as mentors, building a network of engaged young leaders.
“We were very impressed with the work ethic and ambitions of this year’s scholarship recipients and look forward to seeing their achievements,” said CFK Africa Executive Director Jeffrey Okoro, who grew up in Kibera and served as a 2019 Metis Fellow, working toward accelerating the pace of education reform across Africa. “Our scholarships reflect our greatest hopes for young residents of informal settlements in Kenya as empowered leaders committed to serving their communities.”
CFK Africa’s scholarship application process is rigorous, targeting students who showed promise with high scores on their 2023 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exams. A total of 542 applicants expressed interest, with 75 shortlisted to meet with the selection committee composed of representatives from the local community. After home visits with the most promising candidates, the final 10 recipients were chosen. These students are now part of a network of CFK Africa’s 92 thriving young scholars, leaders, dreamers, and creators across grade levels in 2024.
The scholarships are named after and given in honor of Tim Schwartz-Barcott, a U.S. Marine, dedicated mentor, and advocate for peace who was committed to education and public service, and Jim Rogers, a sustainability champion and former CEO and chairman of Duke Energy.
“Our impressive list of alumni is a testament to our approach to providing sustainable funding for education,” added Joshua Omweno, project officer for education and an alumnus of the scholarship program who now helps manage CFK Africa’s scholarship funds. “These 10 recipients are highly motivated and dedicated individuals who have shown exceptional promise in their academic pursuits and commitment to transforming their communities. We can’t wait to see what they do next.”
To learn more about CFK Africa’s Lux Sit and James E. Rogers scholarship funds, visit https://cfkafrica.org/lux-sit and https://cfkafrica.org/jim-rogers.
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About CFK Africa
Founded in 2001, CFK Africa improves public health and economic opportunity in informal settlements in Kenya through integrated health and youth leadership initiatives. Using a participatory development approach, the organization works directly with community residents to develop and implement sustainable programs. After marking 20 years of service in Kibera in 2021, CFK began expanding to additional informal settlements in Nairobi County and across eight counties in Kenya, including Kajiado, Kiambu, Kilifi, Kisumu, Machakos, Mombasa, and Nakuru. For more information, visit www.cfkafrica.org.
