Vivo Energy Kenya yesterday sent off 8 students as they started their secondary education journey. The students are all joining form one and are drawn from the 8 former provinces thus representing the face of Kenya. Currently the Vivo is sponsoring 8 students in Form 1, 3 and 4 bringing the total number of students sponsored to 24. The event to send of the students was held at All Saints Cathedral Nairobi courtesy of the Palmhouse Foundation.
Palmhouse Foundation started back in the 90’s whereby the founders set out to assist needy families and farmers who supplied milk to Palmhouse Diaries in Githunguri. The foundation was formally registered in 2002 after increased appeals motivated the founders to formalize their support. Since inception, the foundation has been able to sponsor 722 students out which over 400 students are in Universities/Colleges and some are working. Presently, 300 students are in various secondary schools across the country.
The selection processes for the beneficiaries is done throughout the country. The criteria used is students who are not able to pay their school fees but have been enrolled in national schools. The foundation then partners with various corporates and individuals who take up some of the students and sponsor their secondary school education.
During the send-off, the trustees encouraged and motivated the students to work hard in school for the betterment of their future and that of the society. Angela Munyua, the Vivo Energy Kenya Communications Manager got an opportunity to speak to the students in which she urged them to be confident and focus on their dreams as opposed to their past. The students and their guardians also got an opportunity to engage with the trustees during a question and answer forum.
Other than paying school fees, Palmhouse Foundation also has a mentorship program for the sponsored students which takes place in April, August and December. Vivo Energy Kenya is set to attend these mentoring sessions with a hope of interacting and impacting on their students.