News: The Denise NYAKERU TSHISEKEDI Foundation encourages academic excellence and raises awareness of sickle cell disease
The President of the Foundation Denise NYAKERU TSHISEKEDI recently brought together nearly one hundred and eighty students from different schools in Haut Katanga to present the EXCELLENTIA program to them. This event aimed to raise awareness among young people about academic excellence while highlighting sickle cell anemia, a genetic disease that affects many people around the world.
During this meeting, the First Lady encouraged the students to aim for academic excellence, reminding them that their success and their educational journey will be essential for the development of the country. She also emphasized that obtaining a scholarship under the EXCELLENTIA program, which rewards winners of the state exam with a score of at least 85%, would provide them with the opportunity to continue their university studies in local establishments or abroad.
In addition to promoting academic excellence, the Denise NYAKERU TSHISEKEDI Foundation also wanted to raise student awareness of sickle cell disease. The President invited young people to get tested, recalling the harm of this disease which can have devastating consequences on families and society as a whole. She announced that screening kits will soon be made available in hospital centers in Lubumbashi, in order to facilitate the early detection and care of people suffering from sickle cell anemia.
This meeting was also an opportunity to involve former beneficiaries of the EXCELLENTIA program, who have become concrete examples of academic and professional success. These former scholarship holders shared their experience with the students present, encouraging them to persevere and give themselves the means to achieve their ambitions.
The EXCELLENTIA program, which runs over a period of ten years, aims to reward academic excellence by providing scholarships to state exam winners. The goal is to award 1000 scholarships locally and 100 scholarships internationally.
Currently in its 4th edition, the EXCELLENTIA program already has 241 scholarship holders, 82 of whom are continuing their studies abroad and 159 benefiting from a scholarship locally. This initiative thus contributes to supporting and encouraging young Congolese in their educational journey, while raising awareness of the importance of sickle cell disease.
In conclusion, the Denise NYAKERU TSHISEKEDI Foundation plays an essential role in promoting academic excellence and raising awareness about sickle cell disease. By encouraging young people to surpass themselves and offering them study opportunities, it actively participates in the educational and social development of Congolese youth.