Round of golf could see a student through varsity

By Education Writer

Success comes after hard work. But sometimes one can work hard and not find it due to lack of money.

Tony Karani and Damaris Ndegwa know this very well. These former USIU students were nearly abandoning their dreams, but thanks to a unique work-for-tuition initiative, they were able to complete their studies and realise their dreams.

Tony, a banker, is content. The former USIU student recalls how he was so financially challenged during his first year of study he thought he would never don that graduation cap.

It was during this low moment that he went through the student brochure and saw a programme where he could combine studies with a ‘job’ on campus to supplement his fees. On applying for placement, he got work in USIU’s Work-Study Programme in his second year.

This took care of 25 per cent of his tuition fees per semester.

He was to remain in the programme through to graduation.

Hard work and even harder study saw him successfully complete his studies in 2005 and get a job — a dream come true.

In her office, Damaris reads a brochure announcing USIU’s Inaugural Golf Day slated for this Friday to start a fund for students from disadvantaged backgrounds who need assistance.

She knows what this means because she has been there. She enrolled in USIU-Africa in 2001 and her family paid fees for the first year but family resources petered out soon after.

"My father had passed away in 2000 and educating my siblings was a challenge for the family. I was now accustomed to the USIU culture and education system so financial resources were not going to stop me," she says.

Vice Chancellor’s grant

She approached USIU’s Financial Aid Office and was advised on several options.

"One viable option was that I needed to maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.5 and above; therefore qualifying for Vice Chancellor’s Grant — which would pay up to 25 per cent of my school fees.

"I signed up immediately writing a letter to Vice Chancellor, Prof Freida Brown, explaining my situation with reasons why the university needed to consider me for that grant. After a few weeks, we were asked to collect our responses. I had qualified. I was so ecstatic, I cried."

Damaris, who was the President of the very first Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE), did her internship in Parliament in 2004. Then, she joined the Research Foundation of the State University of New York (Kenya Programme) and is currently the finance manager at the USaid Parliamentary Support Programme.

Dreams of a rosier future

Damaris and Tony want to see the door that opened up opportunities for them to remain open for others. They have heeded the Alumni Association’s call to raise money as potential sponsors play golf.

Alumni Association Committee chair Vincent Rapando says the money raised will ensure another needy student wakes up on graduation day with dreams of a rosier future. And they are extending the invitation beyond the alumni to the wider public and corporate world.

Prof Brown says USIU received 95 applications for financial assistance in 2007, 113 in 2008 and 41 last year, of which only two students get full scholarships.

The high number of applicants justifies the need for sponsorship just as the university’s vision desires to see more beneficiaries. The Alumni Association’s Inaugural Golf Day is on at Muthaiga Golf Club this Friday. Individual and company teams can register with the university beginning today.

The Association plans to make the tournament an annual event. The committee is optimistic several firms, individuals and friends of Usiu will start off the fund.