The Kenyan Embassy and the Kenyan Community in Korea helped award four students stipends on April 6 in recognition of their academic excellence and overcoming personal and financial challenges while studying abroad here in Korea.

Kenyan students Josephine Kamakia, Wesley Kirui, Alias Kirugi and Mirriam Karithi were awarded stipends of 250,000 won ($220) each during a reception that also doubled as an organizing meeting of the KCK at restaurant Silk Road in Itaewon in Seoul.

Kenyan Ambassador Ngovi Kitau facilitated awarding the special stipend for the students in cooperation with a local media outlet to help them make ends meet while studying in graduate and post-graduate science, math and management programs at universities here.

The Korean government currently restricts African students studying here from working part-time.

In related news, the Woojung Education and Culture Foundation, which allocates some $370,000 to 100 students annually, awarded eight African students scholarships of 4 million won each for the first time ever at the request of the Kenyan Embassy. Six Kenyan and two Ghanaian students received the scholarship this year.

KCK also inaugurated its new leaders, as well as a new managing editor for its newsletter, Jambo Kenya Korea, during the reception.

(ephilip2011@heraldcorp.com)