Brian Kyazze was all smiles at Trinity College Nabingo. He was one of 507 who completed their A-levels, with support from MasterCard Foundation Scholars programme and Brac Uganda.
For a child who was raised in an orphanage (Charis Child Centre-Namataba) all his life, this was a big opportunity that was presented to him and was to be properly utilized.
Kyazze, who hails from Nakaseke district, said he had not expected to continue with his education after senior four, as he could not believe his aunt who was a petty businessmen could afford.
“The story is long; although I performed well in primary, where I scored first grade (aggregate-8), I joined senior one in the second term because we did not have school fees, and what was funny was that it is my aunt who took me to Bwera SS in Kasese district,” he said. “Through the MasterCard Foundation Scholars programme and Brac scholarship, I was able to join Gombe SS where I have been studying Physics, Economics and Mathematics (PEM); my dream is to become an engineer.”
A comprehensive package, which includes tuition, learning materials, transport, pocket money, mentoring support, internship opportunities, community service and leadership training is provided to the beneficiaries.
Like Kyazze, Eve Nakalembe, a beneficiary, said apart from the full scholarship, and in spite of her tough history, she feels empowered and can decide what her destiny will be because of the education and the skills she has received from the organizations.
“During holidays, Brac Uganda used to hold seminars that helped us to understand what we are; also, we got hands-on skills that will help us get going as we wait for our results,” she said.
The MasterCard Foundation Scholars programme was specifically set up to educate and develop academically-qualified and talented yet economically-disadvantaged backgrounds to attain quality education who will contribute to the transformation of Uganda and African continent.
Grace Sennoga, the communication officer of the MasterCard Foundation Scholars programme, said they had supported 5,000 students since 2012 when it started and this is the third cohort that they are passing out.
“Completing secondary education implies that the 507 scholars are off the scholars programme at Brac and will join the alumni network of 593 beneficiaries that completed senior six in 2014 and 2015.
WHAT NEXT
While the recruitment for more scholars ended this year, the programme will continue to support scholars both on O-level and A-level till they complete secondary school.
Atiqur Rahman, Brac Uganda’s acting country representative, said they would support their scholars with admission to institutes, if they fail to secure admission to a formal tertiary institution, such as a university.
“We are organizing internship programmes for the alumni, here they will be able to get skills that would help them in life,” he said.
However, Sennoga said that Brac was working to ensure its scholars are admitted to universities.
“The MasterCard Foundation has university partners in different parts of the world like South Africa, USA, Canada, Ghana, Costa Rica, Lebanon, and in Uganda, we partner with Makerere University to provide university education opportunities to the scholars,” she said.
Dr John Chrysostom Muyingo, the state minister for higher education commended the programme and advised that Brac and The MasterCard Foundation go beyond secondary school education.
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