Title: The EXCELLENTIA program raises awareness among young students about academic excellence and sickle cell disease
Introduction :
Recently, the President of the Foundation Denise NYAKERU TSHISEKEDI organized a lunch bringing together nearly 180 students from different schools in Haut Katanga. The objective of this event was to raise awareness of the EXCELLENTIA program, which aims to promote academic excellence among young people, as well as of sickle cell anemia, the first genetic disease in the world. During this meeting, the First Lady encouraged students to persevere in their studies and to be screened for sickle cell anemia.
Promote academic excellence:
The EXCELLENTIA program, which extends over a period of 10 years, rewards state exam winners who obtain a score of at least 85% by offering them scholarships. The objective is to encourage and support young students in their educational journey, by giving them the opportunity to continue their university studies in local establishments or abroad. This program aims to train the country’s future elite, essential for the development of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Raising awareness about sickle cell disease:
In addition to promoting academic excellence, the Denise NYAKERU TSHISEKEDI Foundation also focuses on sickle cell disease awareness and prevention. During lunch, the students benefited from an educational session led by Doctor Kadhy NSINGI, during which they were able to learn more about this genetic disease. The First Lady stressed the importance of getting tested and announced that screening kits would soon be made available in certain hospitals in Lubumbashi.
An example to follow :
To inspire young students, some scholarship recipients from the first edition of the EXCELLENTIA program were present at this event. Their remarkable journeys serve as a concrete example of what academic excellence can achieve. These former winners, who are currently pursuing their university studies in Morocco, France and the United States, are a source of inspiration for future beneficiaries of the program.
Conclusion :
The EXCELLENTIA program, initiated by the Denise NYAKERU TSHISEKEDI Foundation, aims to promote academic excellence and support young students in their educational journey. By also raising awareness of sickle cell anemia, this initiative contributes to the prevention and fight against this genetic disease. Thanks to this awareness event, students in Haut Katanga were able to become aware of the importance of academic excellence and the need to be screened for sickle cell anemia. This is how the Denise NYAKERU TSHISEKEDI Foundation works for the education and health of young people in the Democratic Republic of Congo.