The College of Fashion and Design in Dubai and SOWO Foundation, launched a scholarship programme for their supporting schools in Kenya. The announcement also coincided with Barack Obama’s first trip to Kenya after leaving his presidency, which also included a visit to his father’s village of Kogelo in Siaya County, the heart of SOWO Foundation and its supporting schools.

The CFD-SOWO Scholarship entitles students to study at the facilities in the UAE and earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Design or Fashion Business Management. The winners of the scholarship will start their classes in January 2019 in Dubai and receive a MOE accredited degree.

Abhiruchi Abrol and Cynthia Penner from CFD Dubai attend SOWO event in Nairobi with President Obama

The event to announce the CFD-SOWO Scholarship programme was held at Kogelo, at President Obama’s grandmother’s house and was attended by dignitaries from the corporate sector such as Gaurav Kaushal CEO Godrej, Janet Kemboi Head Uber, and Finali Galaiya Miss India and Abhiruchi Abrol and Cynthia Penner from CFD among others. In her short speech, Mama Sarah Obama highlighted the importance of education and emphasized; “Education is very important for the youth to maximise their passion.” The CFD-SOWO Scholarship will also be known as CFD-Mama Sarah Obama Scholarship as a mark of respect to the former president’s grandmother.

In the village of Kogelo, where President Obama’s father was born and buried, the two schools are named after younger Obama – the Senator Obama Kogelo Primary School and Senator Obama Kogelo Secondary School. The schools were dedicated to Obama back when he was an Illinois senator, and his success has inspired many families to name their sons after him. At the primary and secondary schools, the Obama name can be seen on children’s pencils, books and even backpacks. The Kogelo village, along with the rest of Kenya, holds immense pride for Obama, whose ancestry lies in their country.

Abhiruchi Abrol and Cynthia Penner from CFD Dubai with the grandmother of Barack Obama and patron of SOWO

The CFD session at the Senator Obama Secondary School was attended by over 200 students and 20 faculty members who learned about the scholarship opportunities and were later presented with CFD Scholarship bags- a positive step towards making their dream of gaining education in the UAE and building a career in fashion.

SOWO is a community-based organisation formed in 1995 to empower and mobilise orphans and widows to lead a better life. Now these students can benefit further and enhance their skills through once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to earn a degree in Fashion and Design through the CFD-SOWO Scholarship programme.

Discover more about The College of Fashion & Design Dubai, here.