I overcame the FGM shadow to scale academic heights, says Wings to Fly beneficiary

Jesca Kiplagat talks to the Wings To Fly scholars during the Annual Education and Leadership Congress at Kasarani

NAIROBI, KENYA: One of the beneficiaries of Equity Group Foundation’s Wings to Fly program shared her story with students attending the Annual Education and Leadership Congress organised by the foundation in an effort to inspire them to achieve their ambitions through hard work and resilience. 

Jesca Kiplagat started her formal education at Cheles Primary School in Elgeyo Marakwet County and worked her way to the prestigious London School of Economics where she is set to graduate next month.

“I was brought up in a place that is very marginalised and girl-child education was not valued at all,” Jesca said. “I was very lucky to have avoided some cultural rituals such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and early marriage.”

“Many of my female classmates were forced to undergo FGM, same as my older sisters. When I was old enough to undergo the ritual, I went against the grain and outrightly refused. My mother respected my wishes,” The 28-year-old told the over 2,000 Wings to Fly Form three students, drawn from all over the country.

The students were attending the Annual Education and Leadership Congress organised by the Equity Group Foundation.

The congress brings together scholars drawn from both the Wings To Fly and the Equity African Leaders Programmes and seeks to nurture leadership skills and create a global mindset in Equity scholars, by exposing them to mentoring opportunities from outstanding role models from academia, the public service, entrepreneurship, non-profits, amongst others.

The congress is also the primary sharing and networking forum amongst the scholars and lays the foundation for long-term conversations and collaborations to create transformational change.

Jesca, the Egerton University graduate, after passing the Kenya Certificate for Primary Education (KCPE) exams was admitted to Loreto Girls’ High School, Matunda.

“I concentrated on my studies from an early age, I had a plan to succeed,” Jesca told the high school students.

Among the gems of advice she shared with the bright scholars was the importance of having a plan for their lives and to have a mentor who will guide them in their journey to achieving their dreams.

Jesca urged the students to engage in co-curricular activities which she said would open up new avenues in their lives such as the beauty contest she participated in last year and won the Face of Kenya in the UK title. Through this title, Jesca has been able to raise funds for Kapchesewes Children’s Home.

“I would not be here today if it were not for the opportunity I got from the Wings to Fly program. Use this platform to give back to the community that has raised you,” she encouraged them.

Next month, she will go back to London for her second graduation ceremony having successfully completed her MSc course in Development Management.

Notable alumni of the London School of Economics are Kenya’s Mwai Kibaki and Ghana’s Kwame Nkurumah.