Last November, 26 Umoja Project students sat for the national exam required at the conclusion of secondary school.  The comprehensive exam takes several days to complete, and students spend months preparing. How well one performs on the exam dictates eligibility for university studies, and what courses of study a student may pursue.

In the Umoja Project’s early years it was difficult for our students to do as well on the nation-wide exam as the students who had not faced so many obstacles to academic success.  However, through the years we have seen steady improvement in the test scores our students have achieved, particularly the young men.  Through the GET UP program (Girls Empowerment Team of the Umoja Project) the goal has been to help girls overcome the additional challenges they face as young women, such that they can perform as well as the boys on the national exam.

And in 2014 they did!  Of the 26 students who sat the exam, 14 earned direct admittance to the university with government support and 6 of those highest-achieving students are girls! Congratulations to Caroline, Maurine, Helida, Emily, Carolyne, Risper, John Peter, Rodgers, Alex, Hillary, Michael, Elly, Joel, and Fredrick!

We are so proud of the accomplishments of all 26 students. You remain a part of the Umoja Family and we are eager to see where your paths of success will lead.