The power of excellence: Raising awareness among students in Haut Katanga about the EXCELLENTIA program
The President of the Foundation Denise NYAKERU TSHISEKEDI recently took advantage of a lunch at the marquee of the Pullman Hotel Lubumbashi to bring together nearly one hundred and eighty students from twenty schools in Haut Katanga. The objective of this event was to introduce them to the EXCELLENTIA program, which aims to promote academic excellence among young people. But that wasn’t all, as the First Lady also raised awareness among students about sickle cell anemia, the world’s number one genetic disease.
The President of the Foundation first encouraged the students to pursue academic excellence by reminding them that they were the future of the country and that they had the potential to become tomorrow’s elite. To be eligible for the scholarship offered by the EXCELLENTIA program, they simply need to obtain a minimum score of 85% in the school exam. An achievable goal according to the First Lady, who affirmed her confidence in their success. Thanks to this scholarship, students will be able to continue their university studies, whether in local establishments or abroad.
But the awareness did not stop there. Sickle cell disease, a disease that destroys lives and families, was also at the heart of the discussions. The students benefited from an information session led by Doctor Kadhy NSINGI, who explained to them the harmful effects of this genetic disease and encouraged them to get tested. To facilitate the process, screening kits will soon be made available in certain hospital centers in Lubumbashi. The First Lady insisted on the importance of getting tested and stressed that young people were major players in the prevention and fight against sickle cell disease.
The event also allowed students to meet some scholarship recipients from the first edition of the EXCELLENTIA program, who served as concrete examples of success. Since its launch, the EXCELLENTIA program has already had 241 scholarship recipients, of which 82 are studying abroad, notably in Morocco, France and the United States, and 159 are studying locally. The program aims to award a total of 1,000 local scholarships and 100 international scholarships over a period of ten years.
By encouraging academic excellence and raising awareness of sickle cell disease, the Denise NYAKERU TSHISEKEDI Foundation shows its commitment to the future of young people and their health. The EXCELLENTIA program offers a unique opportunity for talented and deserving students to continue their studies and become the leaders of tomorrow. With this initiative, the Foundation is helping to shape a better future for Congolese youth.