Pursue your dreams, former US President Bill Clinton and daughter tell Equity scholars

Wings to Fly Scholars presents a gift to the Former US President Bill Clinton and his daughter Chelsea during the 6th Annual Education Leadership Congress at Kasarani gymnasium in Nairobi. Looking on left is Equity Bank CEO James Mwangi. 02/05/15. [PHOTO/GOVEDI ASUTSA/STANDARD]

Former US President Bill Clinton turned up at the Moi International Sports Complex, Kasarani, with one message of hope for more than 5,000 students: pursue your dreams.

In his address to the scholars, all of them beneficiaries of Equity Bank‘s “Wings to Fly“ scholarship programme, Clinton urged the students to resist people who seek to frustrate their dreams.

“In this independent world, your border can be under threat by violent people who think our differences matter more than our humanity and (they) take away the lives of innocent people,“ said Clinton, who was accompanied by his daughter Chelsea and hosted by Equity Bank CEO James Mwangi.

He added: “Stand up against those who believe our differences matter. What we have in common matters more to us. The gift of life is more important than our differences.“

During the Annual Education Leadership Congress, Clinton urged the youths  to strive to become leaders in Africa, adding that they would make a better future not only to themselves but also to other people. “Every one of you has God-given abilities and good fortune to become a leader to help someone else to have a good story too. Too many people live their own lives with no one else to help them get to their dreams. The one lesson of this world we are living is that we are closer and closer connected than before, that means we can have a great Kenyan institution partner with great Canadian institution and create all these opportunities for you,” the former US President said.

He praised the beneficiaries for overcoming difficulties that came their way, saying the journey to greatness is getting up and starting again. He encouraged them to avoid making excuses for difficulties, adding that defeat is not an excuse for quitting.

“I am glad you got good grades; I respect you for overcoming unimaginable obstacles. Take control of your life. When I was born, my mother was a widow, I was the first person in my family to go to college. You might think your story is small but everybody needs to have the power to write a story. What is in your mind and heart cannot be taken away from you. You have more power than you can possibly imagine. I am proud of my story and when I see another person, I see someone who can write a story. The only way you can win is to tell your stories,” he explained. Clinton called on African leaders to avoid religious and ethnic differences that divide them and get rid of corruption.

Chelsea urged the students to transform many lives in future.

The two  visited Savelberg Retreat Centre in Nairobi where they participated in hearing aid fitting for individuals in need of hearing assistance.

The Starkey Hearing Foundation, which gave hearing aids to 150 children and adults from Nairobi, are members of the Clinton Global Initiative.