Excellentia scholarships: promoting academic excellence and fighting sickle cell disease in the DRC
The Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi Foundation recently organized a lunch at the Pullman Hotel Lubumbashi, bringing together around 180 students from 20 schools in Haut Katanga. This meeting aimed to raise awareness among young people of the Excellentia program, which aims to promote academic excellence, as well as of sickle cell anemia, the first genetic disease in the world.
Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi, president of the Foundation, underlined the importance of students in the development of the country: “This country cannot develop without you. You are the future of tomorrow and are called to be the elite of tomorrow. Obtaining at least 85% to be eligible for the scholarship is not rocket science. You will get there.” She also clarified that the scholarship would not only offer students the opportunity to continue their university studies, whether in the Democratic Republic of Congo or abroad.
During this meeting, an information session on sickle cell disease was led by Doctor Kadhy Nsingi. Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi took the opportunity to raise awareness among students about the dangers of this disease, as well as the importance of early detection. She declared: “Sickle cell disease destroys our families. It destroys our lives. It destroys our society. You are the major players in the prevention and fight against this disease. Get tested as soon as possible.”
The event also benefited from the presence of former beneficiaries of the Excellentia program, who served as concrete examples for future winners. Launched 4 years ago, the Excellentia program has already enabled 241 students to obtain a scholarship, 82 of whom continued their studies abroad.
By promoting academic excellence and raising awareness among young people about sickle cell disease, the Excellentia program contributes to the development of the Democratic Republic of Congo by investing in the education of the future generation.
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