The three are: Michael Assan, a first year student pursuing a 4-year degree in Bachelor of Science in Social Science with Mathematics, Geography and Sociology option; Patience Adubofour, a second-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Information Technology at Aketten Appiah Minka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED); and Prince Appiah, a third year students pursuing a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Actuarial Science both at the University of Cape Coast, who was one of the first two to receive KES funding at the inception of the scholarship. All the three students are former students of Kiphart-beneficiary basic schools. Michael and Prince completed the Mansokwaa Kiphart Community School in the Central Region, and Patience, the Kenilworth Basic School at Krapa in the Ashanti Region.
It is recalled that beginning from 2022/2023, as part of FASUL's educational intervention, with the support of its international partners, FASUL established the Kiphart-Eduful Scholarship (KES), targeting brilliant but needy students from Kiphart Community Schools (KCS) across the Central and Ashanti Regions of Ghana. The scholarship was named after the philanthropists Richard ‘Dick' Kiphart of Chicago and FASUL's founder, Peter Eduful; both of blessed memory.
The scholarship gained significance when Mr. Nicholas Annan, a brilliant former student of Mansokwaa Kiphart Community School in the Central Region of Ghana, had his dream of attending tertiary education rekindled after achieving excellent results in his final high school examination. Nicholas faced economic challenges that hindered his dream due to a challenging financial background. FASUL, inspired by Nicholas's situation, established the KES to support such students. In 2022, Nicholas Annan was admitted to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics became the first recipients of Kipharts Eduful Scholarship, KES. Recommendations from his lecturers and evidence from his transcript indicate that he ranks among the top 5% of high performers in his cohort.
Nicholas's story serves as a testament to the transformative power of financial support for needy but brilliant students in our beneficiary communities, motivating FASUL to expand this intervention. Similar to Nicholas's story, it became evident that many other young students from our beneficiary communities aspired to pursue higher education, but their dreams were let down by a lack of financial resources. Consequently, FASUL recognized the need for a scholarship scheme, and following approval from the donors, the Kiphart Foundation of Chicago, the Kiphart-Eduful Scholarship (KES) was instituted.
The three students selected this year were identified during community visits and engagements with parents and teachers. The FASUL field team sent a report on them as talented and determined individuals who faced financial constraints. In their interviews, Prince Appiah, for instance, noted: "Both my parents are old, and depending on them alone was unbearable, so sometimes I had to engage in a little business to sustain myself, affecting my studies because I have to skip classes. Given my condition, I don’t think I can continue without support if left upon my parents alone."
Patience's story also revealed the economic hardships that hindered successful tertiary education, stating, "After high school, I had to stay home and help my mother by selling fish. Because of the economic hardships of my family, my admission to school has been supported by the benevolence of people and loans and it has had a ripple effect on my family's finances. And it has become difficult for them to support my education."
It is in recognition of such financial difficulties faced by young individuals that FASUL, with the support of the Chicago partners, particularly the Kiphart Family Foundation, that the scholarship was set up. The scholarship package includes the payment of school fees, accommodation fees, a monthly stipend, a computer, and other learning materials.
The scholarship is given to former Kiphart Community School (KCS) students who are entering or already studying in tertiary institutions in Ghana. Each year, two such scholarships are awarded, preferably to one boy and one girl, at the undergraduate level.Priority is given to students studying science, engineering, medicine, mathematics, or technology-related programs.
Despite their challenges, these young individuals, with boundless dreams, demonstrated a passion for community development and exuded profound aspirations to become prominent academics or professionals after their studies. They expressed their immense gratitude to FASUL and its international partners for making their dreams a reality. Indeed, they can now pursue their education with peace of mind and work towards successfully completing their academic journeys.
