Title: Raising awareness of academic excellence and sickle cell disease: the Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi Foundation mobilizes students from Haut Katanga
Introduction :
The President of the Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi Foundation recently brought together nearly one hundred and eighty students from Haut Katanga as part of raising awareness of the Excellentia program. This initiative aims to promote academic excellence among young people while raising awareness of sickle cell anemia, the world’s leading genetic disease. This event, marked by a lunch at the Pullman Hotel in Lubumbashi, allowed the First Lady to underline the importance of education and the fight against this disease for the development of the country.
Raise awareness about academic excellence and sickle cell disease:
The main objective of this meeting was to inform the students of Haut Katanga about the Excellentia program. The latter rewards academic excellence by offering scholarships to winners of the state exam who obtain a score of at least 85%. The First Lady’s intervention highlighted the importance of education in the development of the country, encouraging students to surpass themselves to achieve this objective.
Along with raising awareness about academic excellence, the Foundation has also addressed the issue of sickle cell disease. Doctor Kadhya Nsingi led an educational session to inform students about this genetic disease. Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi recalled the impact of sickle cell disease on families and society, while emphasizing the importance of early detection.
The voice of Excellentia scholarship holders:
During this event, former Excellentia program scholarship holders were involved in order to share their experience with future laureates. These former students were presented as tangible examples of success thanks to this initiative. Their presence allowed the students to project themselves and become aware of the opportunities offered by the program.
Review of the Excellentia program:
The Excellentia program is currently in its fourth edition, with a total of 241 scholarship holders. Among them, 82 are continuing their studies abroad, notably in Morocco, France and the United States, while 159 are studying in local establishments. This initiative aims to award a total of 1,000 local scholarships and 100 international scholarships over a period of ten years.
Conclusion :
Raising awareness of academic excellence and sickle cell disease led by the Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi Foundation is a strong commitment to education and health in the Democratic Republic of Congo. By mobilizing students from Haut Katanga, this initiative aims to promote academic excellence and raise awareness of a genetic disease that is still little known. Thanks to the Excellentia program, many young people will be able to benefit from higher education opportunities, thus contributing to the training of tomorrow’s elite.