Touching lives and creating opportunities is a documentation of the voices of impact that the TAGDev program has made in the lives of students that have been participants in the program through scholarships, research, entrepreneurship, and other wrap-up services. The TAGDev program invests in individuals who become change agents in society. In this series of voices of impact, RUFORUM is profiling personal stories of young women and men who are emerging as agents of hope and change. They are undertaking their studies at various universities and deploying skills acquired to create opportunities for themselves and others through entrepreneurship and giveback initiatives.
We hope these stories inspire you as you read.
Aipa Bekah (BSc. student), Egerton University, Kenya
RUFORUM and Mastercard Foundation through the TAGDev program provided me with a scholarship. I am therefore a proud TAGDev scholar. I am currently a student teacher at Ndege Secondary School. The program has provided me with a number of opportunities and platforms to nurture my talent and capabilities. I have acquired personal mastery skills, counseling and 21st century competencies relevant in the world of work. Beyond the Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education and Extension that I will be graduating with in July 2023, I am now a property owner, a proud mother of well-educated children, competent and empowered woman with good communication, leadership and collaborative skills. At community level, I have
been engaged in educating and empowering women and girls in Turkana. For girls, I have encouraged them to stay in school and supported women farmers in better agricultural production for food and income security.
Andrew Nkhoma (BSc. student), Egerton University , Kenya
The TAGDev program represents a blessing to me. It has enabled me to undertake my studies for a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management at Egerton University in Kenya. I have had the opportunity to meet people from different countries in Africa. Through this exposure, have been inspired to address the challenge of learning resources shortage in Malawi. I have developed an android based application that helps students and teachers in Malawi to access learning resources at any time anywhere. So far, the application has had over 5,000 users. I thank RUFORUM and the Mastercard Foundation for the great opportunity.
Benard Kipngetch Cheruiyot (BSc. student), Egerton University, Kenya
RUFORUM and Mastercard Foundation have been a blessing to my academic journey. I am pursing a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education and Extension. Through the knowledge and skills and experiences garnered through community outreach, I have been able to start a Young Farmers Club at St. John’s High School-Keringet where we are to implement agricultural projects. I have also been able to construct a presentable house for my parents and carry out sustainable crop production at family level. Further, I have been able to educate my siblings. I thank RUFORUM and the Mastercard Foundation for giving me and family a new life direction.
Joana N. Nowezzie (BSc. student), Egerton University , Kenya
TAGDev program has had an incredible impact in my life, family and the community. The program enabled me to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science at Egerton University in Kenya. Through the program I have been empowered. As such, I have been able to pay school fees for my cousin who has successfully completed his studies and is a proud holder of a Diploma in Automobile Engineering in Malawi. I have also helped another cousin to grow her business. she is now able to independently support herself and her child through the income she earns. I personally started a car washing enterprise with one employee whose proceeds I use to help my mother to meet her immediate basic needs. Lastly, I have been able to acquire a parcel of land for farming and renovated my mother’s house. I am wonderfully grateful to RUFORUM and Mastercard Foundation. By Joana N. Nowezzie
Lily Bor (BSc. student), Egerton University , Kenya
The TAGDev program has enabled me to rewrite my life story. I have been able to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture at Egerton University in Kenya. I have had the opportunity to receive various trainings, experiential learning field visits, and entrepreneurship mentorship. Because of the program’s empowerment, I have been able to install electricity and pipped water system at our family home. I have also established a small rabbit try house, and setup a grocery shop as part of income generating activities for my family. I have had the opportunity to be mentored in research in potato and climate and water-smart agriculture at Egerton University. Thank you RUFORUM and Mastercard Foundation for rewriting my life’s
story.
Leah Wambui Waweru (BSc. student), Egerton University , Kenya
RUFORUM and the Mastercard Foundation through the TAGDev program have been a life changing opportunity to me. When I joined in 2018, I did not know my personality. The program gave me an opportunity to identify my personality that has positively impacted my social-life. Apart from acquiring knowledge and skills through my training in Bachelor of Science in Horticulture at Egerton University, I have gone through scientific and life skills trainings that have added value to who I am today. To my family, I have been able to support farming as a business thus, enabling them to meet daily needs.
Yasir Sa’adu (BSc. student), Egerton University, Kenya
RUFORUM and Mastercard Foundation through the TAGDev scholarship enabled me to break free from constraints of poverty and the limitations to my education aspiration. I am pursuing my Bachelor of Agribusiness Management at Egerton University in Kenya. As a young determined man from Katsina (Nigeria) full of dreams, receiving the scholarship opened windows of possibilities for my dreams to come true. I have transformed into a confident, capable graduate with the skills and knowledge to make a difference in my community and beyond. I have been mentoring other young people in android programming to improve digital literacy skills. I have also been building a Uber-like agro-inputs system and facility for farmers in Nigeria. RUFORUM and Mastercard Foundation support gave me the tools to make a meaningful impact. I am grateful for investing in my future and the future others.
Saliru Zena (BSc. student), Egerton University, Kenya
I have been fortunate to be a recipient of RUFORUM and Mastercard Foundation support through the TAGDev program. The program has enabled me to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education and Extension. I have been able to acquire knowledge and skills in agriculture and teaching as my career path. Through these skills, I am currently empowering 1000 farmers and farmer groups through delivering agricultural extension and advisory services at Jumafarm Agricultural Center. The Jumafarm Agricultural Center also supplies agroinputs to farmers. Through these services, farmers are able to increase the profitability of farm enterprises. I have also been able to pay school fees for my younger niece as part of my give back to my family and community.
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