On Thursday, June 27, 2019, the Unstoppable Scholars Tourism & Hospitality Management Class of 2019 were the first students to graduate at the new WE College, a world-class, state-of-the-art educational institution and the only higher education facility of its kind in the Maasai Mara region.

In the Maasai Mara, it is considered good luck when it rains on a special occasion. And when the skies opened up and the rain began to pour down upon the 14 excited young women gathered outside WE College in their black graduation gowns, they seemed to stand even taller.

Proud families joined the graduates, the Unstoppable Foundation team and some of our generous supporters to celebrate the incredible milestone. Commencement activities included dance performances, a special pinning ceremony, as well as addresses by Cynthia Kersey, Founder of the Unstoppable Foundation, members of WE College faculty and student representatives, including valedictorian Faith Cherop.

“We are going out there to face the world and to be change makers,” said Faith as she addressed her peers. “We are going to change our communities, our country and the whole world at large into a better place to be.”

 

Faith addresses classmates in valedictorian speech.

Cynthia Kersey and Fiona Achieng of WE College cut the graduation cake.

Faith and her classmates began their studies in the fall of 2017, having qualified after graduating from high school for an Unstoppable Scholarship at WE College. The majority of the people in the region in which they reside live on less than $1 a day. Despite the area’s growing appeal as a travel destination – over 290,000 tourists visit the area’s resorts and safari camps each year – hospitality jobs are typically outsourced due to a lack of skilled labor. Income opportunities for women are limited as men make up a majority of the workforce. The Unstoppable Foundation introduced its Unstoppable Tourism & Hospitality Scholarship Program to combat this problem, and Faith and her peers have proven that hard work and determination pay off. Learn more about Faith’s story.

The Unstoppable Tourism & Hospitality Scholarship Program involves a comprehensive two-year academic curriculum that educates and trains students in the disciplines of tour guiding techniques, travel operations, customer care, tourism geography and marketing. In addition to learning in the classroom, students receive on-the-job training through internships at local resorts and safari camps. This would not have been possible without the support of our friends and donors, Sherry and John Phelan, who generously funded the class of 2019.

Scholars also take part in the Unstoppable Leadership Academy (ULA) — a powerful, learner-centered two-year certificate program where they develop their leadership life skills. This unique, innovative curriculum was created by the Unstoppable Foundation in partnership with some of the top minds in leadership and personal development, including Bob Proctor, Gerald Jampolsky, Diane Cirincione and Jack Canfield.

“You represent what it means to truly be unstoppable,” said Cynthia to the students. “And I could not be more proud of you.”

Learn more about our Unstoppable Scholars program.