By Kese Werugha
Imarika Foundation has donated Sh250, 000 toward supporting four needy but bright students in Kilifi, Tana River, Kwale and Lamu Counties.
The foundation is supported by Imarika Savings and Credit Co-operative Society (formerly Kilifi Teachers Sacco) that operates in the four counties.
The foundation chairman Renson Ndoro said the fund was set up to help bright students facing financial constraints from the four counties.
He was speaking at the Imarika Sacco Headquarters in Kilifi town when he presented a cheque for Sh75, 000 to Fatuma Ahmed.
Fatuma, a former student of Mvindeni Primary School in Kwale County has been admitted to Asumbi Girls Secondary School in Homa Bay County.
“We look forward to helping students that really need financial aid for their education,” he said.
He noted that many people in various parts of the country have managed to accomplish their personal development projects and educate their children through taking loans from Saccos and challenged members of the public to join saccos.
Fatuma who is an orphan scored 381 marks in last year’s KCPE.
Her father died when she was 3 years old and has been living with her aunt Mwamka Abdalla, a business lady and a member of Imarika Sacco at Ukunda branch in Kwale County.
“We urge the youth and residents of the areas we are operating to join Imarika Sacco and save and secure loans to boost their economic status and to uplift their living standards,” Ndoro said.
He also said that Imarika Foundation would be monitoring the learning progress of their beneficiaries with a view to supporting them through university.
The Imarika Sacco Chief Executive Officer Daniel Masha said the Foundation is a product of the Sacco which plan to establish branches in all the six counties in the Coast region.
“The Imarika Sacco Community Social Responsibility through Imarika Foundation will continue assisting or giving back to the counties where it operates to improve the living status of the people who are our customers. We hope that the four students receiving the scholarships will change their destiny in life for the better,” he said.
The sacco also sponsors a soccer tournament to promote youth talent, donates foodstuffs to special needs schools, the elderly among others.
He revealed that the Sacco currently has a total membership of over 45, 4500 and an asset base of Sh4.8 billion.
He said: “Since its inception in 1974 Imarika Sacco has been operating within Kilifi County only, a situation which was not good enough considering we have members outside the county who needed our services closer to them.”
Masha further added: “For this reason we moved forward and decided to open branches in Malindi, Mtwapa, and Mariakani in the county. We have also moved to Garsen in Tana River County, Ukunda in Kwale County and Mpeketoni in Lamu County”.
