A research paper focusing on the Macheo programme under the Community Service Centre and authored by Dr. Alfred Kitawi, Director, Doctoral Academy, has been published. The paper titled “Improving transition rates of students in informal settlements into higher education: An analysis of the Macheo Mentoring Programme” was published in Gateways International Journal of Community Research and Engagement.

The Macheo Achievement Program is an education and mentorship program run by Strathmore University. The program empowers secondary school students from disadvantaged backgrounds to excel in their academics, develop in character and access opportunities to join University and other tertiary institutions.

Through this programme, Strathmore University student volunteers are paired up with secondary school students in a mentoring relationship through which students are assisted to deal with social challenges, to improve in their grades and to aspire to join the university like their mentors. Currently Macheo has 150 students, located in three different slum areas in Nairobi – Kibera, Mukuru and Kangemi.

Over 50 students from the Macheo programme have so far joined universities and colleges. Out of the 43 Macheo candidates who sat for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam in 2018, 42% got a C+ and above and qualified to study degree courses, with 28% qualifying to study diploma courses and the other 30% certificate and TVET courses.

Read the full paper here.

If you have a story, kindly email: communications@strathmore.edu