OUr mission
The Education and Social Empowerment Program is a nongovernmental organization recognized by the government of Kenya, dedicated to developing future leaders from the economically disadvantaged communities by helping them access educational opportunities at the world’s top institutions of higher learning. Initiated by Kenyatta University Professors Lillian and Mike Boit in 2009, EaSEP is volunteer-based.
The Background
Kenya stands at a crossroads. Fifty years after independence, the East African nation has become a regional hub for trade and finance and has set its sights on becoming a middle-income country by 2030. However, barriers to continued growth are myriad, ranging from corruption and HIV prevalence to food insecurity and simmering relationships between ethnic groups. An expanding economy increases the need for highly educated leaders and civil servants, when just 3 percent of qualified high school graduates are entering post-secondary education institutions.
The Opportunity
A better future is within reach for Kenya, but to grasp it will require a new generation of educated, capable, open-minded leaders, representing Kenya’s great diversity of ethnic groups. EaSEP strives to identify future leaders and broaden their understanding of the global community by helping them access world-class education at top American institutions of higher learning. Those EaSEP students who matriculate at Kenyan universities also are better prepared for their academic and professional careers and play a vital role in supporting EaSEP's vision.
The Model
Each year more and more of the world’s top scholars are enrolling at American universities, drawn by the high quality of instruction and the financial aid offered to outstanding international applicants. Top Kenyan students traditionally possess the scholastic ability and work ethic to succeed at American universities, owning to the rigorous Kenyan primary and secondary school system. However, achieving high standardized test scores and negotiating the complicated university application process constitute strong barriers for even the best Kenyan students, particularly those from rural and small-town settings.
Each year, EaSEP provides five months of intensive SAT and TOEFL preparation guided by US tutors and EaSEP alums to a small group of select students from low to middle-income communities. In addition to tutoring, EaSEP also pays student exam fees and assists students in assembling the necessary documentation to apply to American universities offering full scholarships to qualified international scholars.
EaSEP recruits students based on academic performance, leadership, standardized testing, financial need and school recommendations. The program emphasizes critical thinking, leadership, team-building and personal ethics as well as test preparation. EaSEP alums are a key component of the program's sustainable vision, filling many volunteer roles.
Successes
Midway through its first nine years, EaSEP has helped place 65 students at American universities, including 35 at Ivy League institutions. EaSEP's investment in these promising students has produced close to $16.5 million in financial aid.
The Background
Kenya stands at a crossroads. Fifty years after independence, the East African nation has become a regional hub for trade and finance and has set its sights on becoming a middle-income country by 2030. However, barriers to continued growth are myriad, ranging from corruption and HIV prevalence to food insecurity and simmering relationships between ethnic groups. An expanding economy increases the need for highly educated leaders and civil servants, when just 3 percent of qualified high school graduates are entering post-secondary education institutions.
The Opportunity
A better future is within reach for Kenya, but to grasp it will require a new generation of educated, capable, open-minded leaders, representing Kenya’s great diversity of ethnic groups. EaSEP strives to identify future leaders and broaden their understanding of the global community by helping them access world-class education at top American institutions of higher learning. Those EaSEP students who matriculate at Kenyan universities also are better prepared for their academic and professional careers and play a vital role in supporting EaSEP's vision.
The Model
Each year more and more of the world’s top scholars are enrolling at American universities, drawn by the high quality of instruction and the financial aid offered to outstanding international applicants. Top Kenyan students traditionally possess the scholastic ability and work ethic to succeed at American universities, owning to the rigorous Kenyan primary and secondary school system. However, achieving high standardized test scores and negotiating the complicated university application process constitute strong barriers for even the best Kenyan students, particularly those from rural and small-town settings.
Each year, EaSEP provides five months of intensive SAT and TOEFL preparation guided by US tutors and EaSEP alums to a small group of select students from low to middle-income communities. In addition to tutoring, EaSEP also pays student exam fees and assists students in assembling the necessary documentation to apply to American universities offering full scholarships to qualified international scholars.
EaSEP recruits students based on academic performance, leadership, standardized testing, financial need and school recommendations. The program emphasizes critical thinking, leadership, team-building and personal ethics as well as test preparation. EaSEP alums are a key component of the program's sustainable vision, filling many volunteer roles.
Successes
Midway through its first nine years, EaSEP has helped place 65 students at American universities, including 35 at Ivy League institutions. EaSEP's investment in these promising students has produced close to $16.5 million in financial aid.
