Moving to a new country as an international student can be a daunting and overwhelming experience, particularly if the student is not familiar with the language or culture of the host country. A supportive community can help ease the transition by providing practical assistance and emotional support.
A good community also helps international students feel less isolated and avoid homesick. Having a community of like-minded individuals who share a common background and experiences can provide a sense of belonging and familiarity.
Sam Motari a beneficiary of The KENYA Airlift Program at Grand Valley State University shares how the close-knit Kenyan community in the school as well as in Grand Rapids helped him settle in easily and feel at home in America.
This article is brought to your courtesy of The KENYA Airlift Program
The KENYA Airlift Program is an award-winning initiative that helps brilliant Kenyan Students achieve the dream of studying in the US regardless of their financial background.
The program was founded in late 2018 by US-based education & technology consultant Bob Mwiti in collaboration with a Member of County Assembly of Meru Hon. Dennis Kiogora popularly referred to as DMK.
The program’s mission is achieved through key partnership with MPOWER Financing as the official lending partner for unsecured student loans that cover both tuition and living expenses, partnership with universities in US where the program negotiates tuition fee waivers and scholarships, partnership with The Airlift Sacco to help finance students’ relocation expenses and partnership with Qatar Airways who offer discounted relocation air tickets to the students.
The program only accommodates ambitious and incredibly talented Kenyans who are willing to take a leap of faith in joining the tech industry by studying STEM or business-related master’s programs.
This award-winning program is trying to fix three major challenges Kenyan Students face in their quest to study in America, namely:
- Acquiring funding for relocation, tuition and living expenses.
- Finding well-paying jobs after graduation
- Acquiring permanent residency in America after graduation
The program is divided into two options; regular and parallel, which are based on the student’s academic qualifications and financial capabilities.
Regular student’s academic requirement is a B plain mean grade in KCSE with a B plain in Mathematics or Physics and a second class division in undergraduate, whereas Parallel students’ academic requirements is a C+ mean grade in KCSE and a second class division in undergraduate.
The program has an active membership of about 2000 students, and as of January 2023, the program has seen over 200 students relocate since inception, to study at various top State Universities in the US, with many more currently in the relocation pipeline.
The program has official working relationship with top Universities in North America namely:
- The University of Alabama in Huntsville
- Grand valley State University
- South Dakota State University
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- Missouri State University
If you are interested in joining this fantastic program, please apply today by visiting our website at www.kenyaairliftprogram.com
For any further inquiries, you can also visit our head office in Nairobi at Muthaiga Square, 3rd Floor suite 311 on Thika Road opposite Muthaiga Police Station or you can give us a call at 0721-263-977.
The Kenyan Students Community at Grand Valley State University
