Meet Sola, a graduate of Economics and senior staff at an auditing firm. She earns twice as much as her colleagues, is moving rapidly up the corporate ladder and is a role model for many women. But Sola is not happy. And when asked why, she says simply; “ I wanted to be a doctor. I wanted to be in a place I could help people and see smiles. This is not the life I wanted.” So why didn’t Sola study to be a doctor? “ My parents couldn’t afford it,” she says sadly. What if Sola had access to a scholarship program early enough?
A Scholarship Program is more than just providing money to needy students (even though that’s what they do primarily). It gives hope and encouragement, and make dreams a reality for more than the applicants – for their families and communities as well. Scholarships help not only parents or students, they help in national development in some manner.
Sola is the first graduate in her family, and the fourth from her community. The area is lacking in healthcare facilities and dependence on an overburdened government is not an attainable solution. Now, Sola could’ve opted to live with her current situation and remain ignorant or she could’ve taken some steps to ensure her dreams sees the light of the day.
However, Sola found a way to live her dream; albeit vicariously via a Scholarship Program.
“I have teamed up with our community and agreed that I will sponsor five children each year up to medical school. Of course, there is a bias for children interested in medicine at the beginning – the goal is to have as many as possible become graduates and make a better community,” Sola says at a press conference, happier than ever.
