That dream university call-up? It might actually come from your brilliant idea

November 19, 2022 Newsroom

For thousands of teenagers across Kenya, it always seems like an impossible dream to secure admission to study at some of the most prestigious universities in the world.

Besides presenting the best scores and providing a strong case for your consideration, many scholarships subject potential beneficiaries to rigorous checks to check one’s suitability.

At the moment, the chance is open for Kenyan students aged between 15 and 17 years (as of July 1st, 2023) to join the Global Rise Community, a team of young global citizens who are keen on solving daunting challenges facing humanity through impactful, brilliant projects.

The winners will get a set of lifetime benefits such as lucrative study scholarships—a four-year study at any accredited university, including tuition and a living stipend, based on need and where not already covered by financial aid.

Winners of the Rise Global Challenge also benefit from world-class mentorship programmes, access to career development opportunities, funding, and more as they scale their ideas to help solve humanity’s most pressing problems.

In 2019, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and his wife, Wendy, launched a $1 billion philanthropic commitment to identify global talent. Part of that effort is the Rise initiative, which selects 100 young scholars, ages 15-17, from around the world who show unusual promise and a drive to serve others. The Rise Global Challenge—sponsored by Schmidt Futures and the Rhodes Trust—scouts innovative young people and supports them as they work to serve others.

How to apply

The selection process includes group interviews, peer and expert review of each applicant’s service project, and formal talent assessments.

For one to be considered for the lucrative opportunity, applicants are required to create videos about themselves and present individual projects that demonstrate their ingenuity.

The applicants are then interviewed after which 500 finalists from across the world are selected for consideration in the subsequent stage of evaluation.

In the consecutive phase, which is known as “Finalist Days”, the shortlisted finalists are invited to illustrate their motivations, problem-solving abilities, and teamwork skills in an innovative interview format.

At the end, a total of 100 Global Winners are announced to start receiving their lifetime of benefits as they work on their projects to make the world a better place for humanity. This year’s cohort of 100 Rise Global Winners includes five Kenyan students Edith Chemutai, James Nyaga Ngatia, Marietta Halima Kazungu, Natasha Njoki Ndai as well as Wema Wambugo Marandu made it to the list of 100 Global Winners.

All Rise Global Winners receive the following benefits upon selection: —

● Residential Summit: A fully funded, three-week residential summit with other members of the Rise Global Winner cohort. The summit is usually held in a rotating location globally for each new cohort.

● Global Winner Network: Access to the Rise Global Winners network to connect on common interests, make service commitments, launch enterprises, and collaborate.

● Counseling and Career Support: The mentors are paired with each Global Winner to provide personal, academic, or professional guidance, and specialized career services for internships and jobs

● Programming: Access to specialized programs, courses, and other opportunities through Rise partners.

● Higher Education Scholarships: A four-year, post-secondary scholarship at any accredited university, including tuition and a living stipend, based on need and where not already covered by financial aid.

● Technology: A technology package, such as a laptop or tablet, to be determined annually.

Additional benefits include;

● Partner Network: Matching to programs, secondary school scholarships, internships, and other benefits from partners who are part of the Rise network.

● Funding Opportunities: Apply for funding to experiment with innovative ideas to address major problems in local communities or around the world—ranging from seed money to start a social enterprise to a grant for a non-profit.

● Education Support: Apply for scholarship funds for a graduate degree.

The online applications for the 2023 cohort are open on the Rise website and will be receiving applications until January 25, 2023, at 19:59pm Kenyan time. Students across Kenya can apply here

The program organisers, RISE, are leveraging their expansive network comprising over 30 global organisations such as NBA Africa, the HALI Access Network, KenSAP, and Akili Dada in Kenya, to help aspirants without access to the internet.