27 Jun Inaugural Class of Unstoppable Women Scholars Graduates
MILESTONE MARKS A HISTORIC EVENT
In addition to receiving their diplomas, the Unstoppable Scholars Tourism and Hospitality class of 14 female students and their invited guests were treated to a special pinning ceremony as well as addresses by Cynthia Kersey, Founder of the Unstoppable Foundation, student leaders, members of WE College faculty and parent representatives.
“I am incredibly proud of each and every one of you!” said Cynthia Kersey, CEO and Founder of the Unstoppable Foundation, speaking directly to the graduates. “What you have had to overcome to get to this day represents the essence of what it means to be unstoppable. Never forget that you have everything you need to achieve anything you truly desire.”
Tourism and Hospitality graduates will go on to gain employment in the booming Kenyan tourism industry – earning an income to help support their families as well as the local economy.
“We are going out there to face the world and to be change-makers,” said Valedictorian Faith Cherop. “We are going to change our communities, our country and the whole world at large into a better place.”
WE College is a world-class, state-of-the-art academic institution and the only higher education facility of its kind in the Maasai Mara. Since opening its doors in June 2017 with the Tourism and Hospitality class of 2019, Nursing, Agriculture, Mechanics and Clinical Medicine have been added to the college’s diploma programs.
Fueling Economic Opportunity and Empowering Future Leaders
In the Masaai Mara, a rural area of Kenya, 80% of the population lives on less than $1 a day. Despite the region’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 especially limited. To combat this problem, the Unstoppable Foundation introduced its Unstoppable Tourism and Hospitality Scholarship Program in 2017, which awards scholarships to qualifying high school graduates from the Maasai Mara so they can continue their education through WE College.
The Unstoppable Tourism and Hospitality Scholarship includes 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.
The curriculum also includes the Unstoppable Leadership Academy (ULA) — a powerful, student-centered two-year certificate program where students develop leadership and life skills. To create the unique, innovative curriculum, Kersey partnered with some of the top minds in leadership and personal development, including Bob Proctor and Jack Canfield. Through experiential practice and peer-to-peer engagement, learners are empowered to achieve their fullest potential as leaders in their families, communities and the world at large.
About the Unstoppable Foundation
The Unstoppable Foundation is a nonprofit humanitarian organization that empowers lives through education and moves communities in developing countries from surviving to thriving so that every person can realize their full potential. The Foundation’s approach to creating sustainable education is a proven, holistic 5-Pillar development model called Sponsor A Village (SAV). SAV incorporates everything crucial to lifting communities out of poverty and removing obstacles to educating children by providing access to primary education, clean water and sanitation, healthcare, food and nutrition, and income training for parents.
To ensure students are able to gain employment in their community and increase the standard of living for themselves and their families, the Unstoppable Foundation awards full scholarships to qualifying high school graduates in the Maasai Mara region of Kenya through their Unstoppable Scholars program. Unstoppable Scholars receive a state-of-the-art education that combines theoretical studies with technical training, mentorships and internships. Students also receive leadership and empowerment training through the Unstoppable Leadership Academy (ULA) – enabling them to achieve their full potential as leaders in their families, communities and the world at large.
To learn more about the Unstoppable Foundation, visit www.UnstoppableFoundation.org.
About WE College
Since 2017, WE College has welcomed over 100 students. Once fully constructed over the next five years, the College will be a coed academic hub able to host hundreds of learners every year and offer programs in six faculties of study: Technical Studies, Public Health, Education, Medicine, Civil Engineering, and Business and Technology.