JKF challenges Elimu scholars to turn potential into purpose

More than 900 Grade 10 and Form Four scholars from Garissa and Tana River counties have been challenged to turn their potential into purpose and use education to transform their lives and communities.

The scholars were attending the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation (JKF) Annual Achievers Summit held at Garissa High School, where they were taken through mentorship sessions focusing on academic excellence, career development, leadership, character formation, resilience, goal setting, and personal responsibility.

Speaking during the summit, the JKF Garissa County Coordinator Nelson Oloo said that the mentorship programme was intended to complement the educational support provided to the scholars by equipping them with the mindset, skills, and character required to succeed.

“A scholarship provides an opportunity, but what a young person makes of that opportunity is their responsibility. We want our scholars to leave this summit with greater confidence, clearer goals, and a stronger determination to excel,” Oloo said.

The summit was held under the theme “From Potential to Purpose: Inspiring Excellence, Leadership, and Impact” and brought together scholars, education officials, facilitators, mentors, teachers, and other stakeholders.

Oloo urged the learners to actively participate in the mentorship sessions and make full use of the experience and knowledge shared by the facilitators.

He said academic excellence should be accompanied by discipline, integrity, resilience, leadership, and responsibility, noting that these qualities would be critical to the learners’ success beyond the classroom.

“Every one of you has potential. But potential alone is not enough. Potential must be developed, disciplined, and directed towards a purpose,” Oloo told the scholars.

He challenged the learners to set clear academic and personal goals and to translate the lessons from the summit into action when they return to their respective schools.

Oloo also encouraged the scholars to build positive relationships with one another and use the summit as an opportunity to learn from their peers and mentors.

“Do not leave your inspiration here in Garissa High School. Take it back to your classrooms, your homes, and your communities,” he said.

Representing the County Education Office, Ibrahim Farah, the County Quality Assurance and Standards Officer (CQASSO), encouraged the scholars to take their education seriously and make responsible use of the opportunities available to them.

Farah emphasised the importance of combining academic achievement with discipline, character development, and responsible citizenship.

The participation of the Ministry of Education and County Education Office provided an important policy and institutional dimension to the summit, while the mentorship sessions focused on the practical development of the learners.

The Achievers Summit forms part of JFK’s mentorship efforts aimed at supporting scholars beyond the provision of educational assistance by strengthening their academic, personal, and leadership development.

By Erick Kyalo