BY MANUEL ODENY

A total of 134 students from Nyatike Sub-County in Migori have benefitted from a community led funds drive bursary to boost their education.

The Guda Community Based Organisation has been organising community led funds drive to raise fees for their needy students since 2016 to date.

Denise Akach Ragalo, the group’s chairman said on Wednesday they gave beneficiaries a total of Sh15,925 ahead of schools reopening next week.

Speaking at Ageng’a Boys Secondary School, Ragalo said since the year started they have raised Sh3.2m and they have so far helped 237 students.

“We decided to start this group primarily to support our children education after finding that even with bursaries from.several government and private kitties we still had more needy students,” he said.

He said Nyatike being a semi arid and a hostile place, they have been grappling with climate change and poverty, a trend they wanted to reverse through education.

“To ensure perfect transition through the education system we added what we have to support school retention and we have so far succeeded,” he said.

Joseph Achar, the group’s secretary said the group is created around ‘anyuola’, Luo word for a family tree and they started by helping a handful students before it grew.

“We have been having succesful funds drive where well-wishers and leaders have been helping us before we distribute the bursary among students,” Achar said.

Clinton Odhiambo, an Education student at Tom Mboya University said the bursary gave him a chance to proceed with his education.

“I appreciate this effort by my family, I have greatly reduced cases I had otlf school drop out and I encourage them and others to pick up similar initiatives,” he said.

Odhiambo said he appreciates the effort and also wishes to give back to the future generation.

Lucy Akinyi from Tom Mboya University who is pursuing Human Resource Management as a first year said the cheque she has received today will go along way in helping her stay in school.

“I got a similar support from high school and I feel safe knowing I will transition smoothly with my family and village backing me up,” she said.

Abraham Achar, a parent whose three children have benefitted said the bursary has gone along way in supporting him.

He said other bursary kitties have many beneficiaries and students sometimes only get less than 10,000 which can put a student even through a day secondary school.

“When we add them, plus this kitty and our personal effort we have greatly reduced cases of drop outs and ensure transition as a community,” he said.