By George Otieno
Imarika Foundation last weekend held a fundraising drive to raise money to help run its five programmes and activities that include Education, Health, Agrobusiness, Environmental Conservation and Disaster management.
Speaking at the drive, the Foundation’s Executive Director Mr. Peter Angore stated that presently the foundation was sponsoring 77 students at different levels in various secondary schools around the country and had 12 students who had in the last years KCSE exams performed well awaiting to join various universities.
“Currently, we also have 45 students joining the TVETS institutions. For students who were not able to qualify to join universities, we have enrolled them in the different TVETS institutions.” He added.
Additionally, Mr. Angore said they had partnered with Generation Kenya, an organization specialized in training young people for about six weeks on sewing skills, to train Kilifi youth. Through the partnership, successfully trained youth were then directly attached to EPZ industries and later offered employment opportunities.
“We have trained so far over 45 students who are presently enrolled in different EPZ’s earning a living through the sewing skills.” He said.
During last year’s drought and floods, Imarika Foundation took an active role in efforts to support the affected communities at Galana, Ganze, Magarini, and Kaloleni by providing food, clothes and other crucial essentials.
Addressing the guests, Imarika Sacco chairperson Mr. Renson Ndoro said that this year, the foundation had received over 900 applicants from needy students but only sponsored 25 because of inadequate resources.
It was critical, therefore, the chairman added, for the fundraising to happen in order for the foundation to get more resources due to the increase in demand especially on matters education for it to effectively implement its programs.
“The transition from secondary and tertiary education levels remains a big challenge especially at the Kenyan Coast despite the government’s efforts to ensure free primary education,” he stressed.
The foundation, Mr. Ndoro added was on a mission to double the number of scholarship beneficiaries from 25 to 50. It wanted also to distribute at least ten thousand dignity packs to benefit at least two thousand adolescent girls the entire year ensuring the girls remained in class even during their menstrual period.
“We also want to meet university fees for our scholarship students and further assist coast region youth to join TVETs to acquire technical skills so as to be self-reliant,” he added.
Hon. Flora Mbetsa Chibule, Kilifi County Deputy Governor and the fundraising initiative’s Chief Guest congratulated Imarika Sacco for the impactful efforts it was making to the society stating that the Sacco through the foundation was greatly changing lives through the foundation’s five pillars.
“This year Kilifi County had over 700 students called to join national schools and 442 of them got scholarships from sponsors and well-wishers including Imarika Foundation,” she said.
The Deputy Governor said the county government had also identified the gap that existed in matters education in the county and had currently dispatched Sh. 350 million on scholarships and bursaries but had plans in the next financial year to raise that figure to Sh. 1 billion in order to reach more people and students.
“Our children are really capable of performing and doing more than they are presently, if we give them an enabling environment. With the right mindset to working hard, this current generation has to know they are the solution to those around them,” she stated.
