Scholarship for University Feedback

Scholar Feedback

How has having the Beacon Scholarship helped you develop your leadership skills?

“From the Beacon workshops, I have gained more insights into how people think and how this should inform how I lead. The tips from the emotional intelligence workshop on being mindful of people’s thoughts and circumstances have been useful when chairing meetings and allocating tasks. Applying this knowledge in my seminars, workshops, and meetings has helped make me a more effective leader.”
Beacon Scholar 2023

“Having this scholarship has greatly contributed to the development of my leadership skills. The responsibility that comes with being a scholarship recipient has challenged me to take on new roles and initiatives, which has boosted my confidence in leading others. Additionally, the opportunities provided through the scholarship have opened doors for me to explore new avenues and expand my horizons.”
Beacon Scholar 2023

“The scholarship has been integral to my development across my academic, professional, and personal spheres. For instance, workshops on emotional intelligence and communication transformed my approach as a teacher, employing strategies such as the TAG feedback model and active listening for effective student engagement. Moreover, the scholarship introduced me to a wealth of role models—fellow scholars, mentors, and recommended leaders—whose influence has shaped my leadership ethos. The combination of experiential learning and mentorship has propelled my evolution as a compassionate and effective leader.”
Beacon Scholar 2023

“The Beacon scholarship not only pushes me outside my comfort zone but also provides an encouraging and inspirational environment to take up leadership roles. The skills we learn through the seminars, workshops, and Barazas sufficiently prepare me for leadership roles in various settings and teams, learning to be adaptable and use different styles effectively to deliver the best outcome with a driven and happy team. The older scholars are also amazing role models who consistently show us that we have a voice and we should take every opportunity to step up and use our talents and abilities to make a difference.”
Beacon Scholar 2023

“Through workshops, I have learnt about empowerment, which is important as it encompasses dialogue (active listening and empathic understanding), critical thinking, and problem posing to push further what one already knows. Emotional intelligence has been another key topic helping me gain skills such as self-awareness, self-regulation, and relationship management.”
Beacon Scholar 2023

“The Beacon Scholarship has greatly boosted my confidence, for example, through leading groups during workshops. Receiving feedback has helped me to work on my weaknesses and leverage my strengths, for example, when campaigning during the recent society elections. It has improved my teamwork, communication, and organizational skills, for example, through planning and running the Barazas with my fellow Beacon scholars.”
Beacon Scholar 2023

“The Beacon Scholarship has had a very large and long-lasting impact on my path to becoming a change-maker thus far. It has enabled me to study at a prestigious university and supported me financially by covering my tuition and living expenses and providing me with access to an enhanced academic rigor that has helped me get closer to reaching my full potential. The Beacon Scholarship has also allowed me to gain vital skills that have built up my personal brand through seminars, workshops, and mentorship opportunities.”
Beacon Scholar 2023

“Firstly, I have learned about how to most effectively lead through the workshops. The one on group work and groupthink was particularly helpful when it came to working on a group project for one of my modules, as I was able to recognize when we were going into groupthink during our meetings and give my input despite this. Secondly, I have met other scholars from whom I have learnt. Through our discussions, I have improved in my ability to communicate and brainstorm with other like-minded individuals and also be comfortable voicing differing opinions.”
Beacon Scholar 2022

“The Beacon Scholarship has helped me develop through mentorship. My mentors have been present to offer life advice. They have helped me respond to leadership challenges and shared their own stories and experiences to guide my development. This has provided an invaluable support base as I face newer challenges.”
Beacon Scholar 2022

“Through the development seminars, I have grown my various soft skills. These include communication and teamwork. This has fed into my work leading others and helped me continue growing as an effective leader who can be relied on by those I lead. Importantly, I got the platform to share my story, which helped my self-confidence and belief in my journey.”
Beacon Scholar 2022

“The leadership e-seminars and workshops have played an immense part in the development of my leadership skills this year. I particularly gained a lot from the Team Building workshop, as I was able to implement what I learned when working with the committee of the East African Society in a leadership position, as well as when working with my group of very opinionated individuals in my 2nd year group project. I was able to effectively apply what we learned when discussing ‘How to deal with conflict.’”
Beacon Scholar 2022

“I have become more confident and willing to take up leadership roles when they are announced. In addition, the workshops made me more aware of the roles that everyone plays in a team and appreciate the different characters and personalities that form a team. I have, therefore, been more conscious when working in teams, ensuring roles are assigned before the tasks are carried out, and that everyone is involved. The tips and advice that I received from other scholars during the workshops and seminars have been pivotal in my planning and execution, and they have all been excellent role models.”
Beacon Scholar 2022

“I learnt about Tuckman’s team theory and how to turn a team of strangers into a team. Additionally, I used what I had learned to support training the executive of XXXX to work as a team. I also learned about how to network and how to think laterally through the mentoring workshops, skills I used to land two work experience opportunities.”
Beacon Scholar 2022

“Having the Beacon Scholarship has greatly boosted my communication skills. Through the seminars, I have learned how to give constructive feedback, which is a skill that I have shared with my friends. I have also learned the dynamics of working in a team. I have been able to perform better in presentations as I am able to use my strengths to contribute to the success of the team. The Beacon Scholarship has also helped me to step out of my comfort zone and take up more responsibilities. The Target Sheets have enabled me to track my progress and keep focused.”
Beacon Scholar 2022

“The array of learning opportunities very kindly offered by The Beacon has been a bountiful source of personal, academic, and professional development for me this year. The personal skills workshop allowed me to hone my ability to think laterally in order to elicit creative solutions by viewing an objective from several different angles. Vital skills are required in any successful leader in order to include each team member and lead them to a singular, all-encompassing, conclusive, and innovative solution.”
Beacon Scholar 2022

“Following the Target Sheets this year has allowed me to be accountable for self-development and citizenship when approaching my goals. It has also provided me with a wider community to share my progress with and also gain insight from. Following the seminars and workshops has been an educating and inspiring experience, which I look forward to continuing next year.”
Beacon Scholar 2022

“Through the team-building workshops throughout the past year, I have learned a lot about managing people and crises in a team setting. I have also become more self-aware through consistent self-evaluation through the Beacon’s Target Sheet system. This has allowed me to identify and improve on my weaknesses but also to harness and make use of my personal strengths like communication and problem-solving. I believe that my interpersonal and organization skills have also greatly benefited from hosting and participating in the Beacon Barazas throughout the year, as they provide a platform to lead a conversation and obtain peer-based feedback.”
Beacon Scholar 2022

“The seminars I have attended with the Beacon have taught me the value of curating my personal brand and its impact, giving me more confidence for advocacy and negotiation. I have created an email signature highlighting my recent work and awards and renegotiated my summer placement offer from its original offer of 6 weeks to 10 weeks. Through the relationships made in Beacon, I have seen myself become more comfortable with asking for feedback on my decision-making from people who know me in both a professional and personal context. This valuable feedback has strengthened my reflection process.”
Beacon Scholar 2022

“I have really enjoyed the Workshops. They have been the most effective way of keeping us, Beacon Students, connected as well as actively engaged in improving our leadership skills during this pandemic. My most favorite was the workshop on Public Speaking. I loved being put on the spot in order to actively challenge and improve my ability to confidently speak to an audience. The student-led Baraza meetings allowed us to take the initiative on topics of interest to us; we researched extensively to engage in productive conversations that further educated us and challenged our thoughts and views.”
Beacon Scholar 2021

“Through interacting with the eclectic mix of brilliant Scholars and participating in the workshops, the Beacon has allowed me to acquire the skills required to be an effective leader. From interactions with my ACM, I have gained sage advice, notably around self-awareness and the best way to handle performance reviews. The workshops provided essential life training, particularly the Public Speaking workshop, which was a necessary challenge to motivate me to improve my communication skills, especially in front of an audience. Additionally, the Wellbeing seminar offered useful insight into another aspect of the human condition that is often overlooked.”
Beacon Scholar 2021

“The Beacon Scholarship has supported the development of my soft and technical skills. These include communication, empathy, and an understanding of leadership roles. Through tailored seminars, I have improved these key aspects of my leadership and seen a change in how I approach tasks and the people I lead. The scholarship has also inspired me to grow as a leader. All the Beacon Scholars and staff have guided me and pushed me to do better as a leader. This includes sharpening my skills and learning new ways to lead. As a result, being part of the scholarship has inspired me to seek out opportunities that better my leadership skills.”
Beacon Scholar 2021

“Attending the various leadership e-seminars throughout the academic year has been of great value in the development of my leadership skills. I particularly enjoyed and gained a lot from the Mentoring workshop in October 2020. The lessons learned and skills acquired from this session have proven useful for me, especially in the mentoring of my younger peers who have recently graduated from high school. Having this scholarship has successfully helped me mentor and guide others.”
Beacon Scholar 2021

“Being a Beacon Scholar over the last 7+ years, I have seen myself grow into myself as a person and as a leader. Working on my communication skills has helped me put myself forward for different opportunities, such as achieving my internship in London. As for my leadership skills, I have seen the importance of working in a team that is diverse and rich in strengths. A leader is only as good as their team, so having people that can challenge you and cause you to aspire for more is imperative when in such a position. This lesson is becoming increasingly clear as I begin embarking on my Citizenship Project this year, which requires me to lead a team of like-minded individuals towards a set end goal.”
Beacon Scholar 2021

“The various Workshops and Seminars that I have happily attended over the past academic year have helped enhance my communication and public speaking skills. I have seen these come to light in my day-to-day interactions, where I have been more persuasive and concise in my speaking and articulation of my thoughts. I have also been a more effective team member and, in some cases, team leader in my group projects as a direct result of Beacon Teambuilding Workshops in improving my ability to coordinate thoughts and ideas and resolve any conflicts that arose with my fellow team members. These attributes, among others, have helped me gain the confidence and self-assurance to vie for and secure the seat of Events Representative for the East African Society.”
Beacon Scholar 2021

“The Workshops have provided us with better presentation, negotiation, networking, and problem-solving skills. In the group tasks where I have been appointed group leader, I have been able to put my leadership skills to the test while also learning from those around me as well. Engaging in leadership positions, such as being a lead mentor consultant, has definitely been a learning opportunity as well.”
Beacon Scholar 2021

“There are two aspects of the Beacon that have really improved my leadership skills this year. As this is the first time I have undertaken a Citizenship Project, it forced me to put myself out there and take the initiative. I managed to network with many people, and leading a project to this degree was out of my comfort zone. Equally, the Beacon workshop on public speaking was incredibly useful. This is because I presented in a festival of research and won £200 on my presentation, where I tried to involve a lot of the skills I learned from the workshop.”
Beacon Scholar 2021

“Throughout the course of the year, the Beacon ran virtual leadership Workshops that provided insight and training on an array of issues such as public speaking, personal branding, and wellbeing. These workshops have played an integral role in my development as they have honed my skills in public speaking as well as taught me about public branding and networking. These skills put to use have already helped me in my role as a resident life assistant and during my campaigns to become the Black and Ethnic Minorities Officer at my university.”
Beacon Scholar 2021

“The Beacon Scholarship has aided in my leadership skills in various ways. The Beacon Scholarship has helped me become more confident, and because of this, I have taken up leadership roles such as President of the East African Society. The workshops, particularly those on wellbeing, have taught me lifelong skills on how to ensure that I am feeling my best, which has allowed me to cope better with challenges and thus made me more successful in my projects and academics. The target sheets have allowed me to be consistent and to keep track of my goals, which has led to me achieving more, such as being selected to be a brand ambassador for the Wiser Academy.”
Beacon Scholar 2021

“The Beacon Scholarship has helped develop my leadership skills through three main ways. Firstly, through collaboration, inspiration, and encouragement from my other scholars to pursue my goals, as we all encounter the same difficulties as international students. Beacon also helped me develop the perseverance I needed to land my placement this summer. The target sheet pushes me out of my comfort zone to try new activities, meet new people, and develop my confidence and communication skills. Lastly, the workshops provide practical leadership skills, personal development, and self-management. This was most useful this pandemic year as I presided over the EA Society.”
Beacon Scholar 2021

“Firstly, the Scholarship has enabled me to interact and engage with very smart and like-minded people. These relationships have imparted a variety of leadership skills and also inspired and supported me to get out of my comfort zone. Citizenship Projects have also allowed me to put into practice my organizational, planning, and innovative skills to create and operate a career guidance service. Finally, Beacon Workshops have imparted very important leadership knowledge and skills that have greatly improved the way I relate, work, and operate with the people around me.”
Beacon Scholar 2021

“The words ‘a woman who leads others must first lead herself’ summarise my third year as a Beacon. In a world where the social structures we depend on for support and belonging have been flattened, workshops and seminars imparted the tools to lead oneself. Discussing personal branding, mentoring, and wellbeing reminded me to self-regulate; internal feelings affect external actions. Examining teamwork, personal branding, and public speaking provided further insight into what leaders do best— influencing others. The last manifested in highly commended presentations to practicing architects in coursework and later to the interviewing committee of the Women in Property Student Awards (Ed: She won this national award).”
Beacon Scholar 2021

“The Beacon has been a community in which I feel heard and supported. It has been present and reliable, allowing me to work on relationship-building and to examine my own dependability, both of which are crucial in a good leader. The Beacon has provided a network of resources that I have been able to use to build my own character and skillset. The workshops, for example, have been very inspiring; e.g., the Personal Branding topic left a lasting impression on me because it brought to light the subject of self-awareness, which, admittedly, I had not considered much before.”
Beacon Scholar 2020

“Being a Beacon Scholar is a big part of who I am and has shaped my desire to pursue leadership for change. I believe having the Target Sheets as a framework for goal setting has helped me with thinking ahead and planning what I wanted to achieve. In turn, this meant that I was able to think earlier on of the opportunities I wanted to pursue to make a difference. In addition, being the current ‘senior’ Beacon Scholar has instilled in me a sense of extra responsibility which has motivated me even more.”
Beacon Scholar 2020

“I have been surrounded by fellow brilliant minds that have challenged me to be ambitious, trust in my own ability, and strive to be the best. They have been a point of reference for me, learning and seeking advice from them. The Beacon leadership workshops have also played a massive role in developing my leadership skills. From workshops, I have learned about teamwork (Belbin team roles) and prioritizing, skills and knowledge that helped me excel during interviews for the Reslife Team at my university. I am excited to use these skills during my role to build my leadership capabilities further.”
Beacon Scholar 2020

“The workshops on Belbin roles and stress management brought a lot of insight. They gave me an opportunity to reflect on how I lead myself, others, how I work in a team, and how I can improve on all accounts. Feedback from each workshop helped me realize how I unconsciously interact with others. I worked on being less overpowering and more open to other people’s ideas, making me a better leader. My newly acquired roles as a student mentor and secretary of Afrojam society also grew my leadership skills, particularly in how to equally coordinate large projects with others, communicate, and facilitate meetings. I have also grown to be more empathetic.”
Beacon Scholar 2020

“The Target Sheets, a distinct feature of Beacon, have improved my leadership experience as I had to regularly set out measurable goals that actively encouraged leadership skills such as public speaking or acknowledging the power of servant leadership. This drove me to see most extracurricular activities as an opportunity to improve in this area. In addition, having the opportunity to attend workshops throughout the year which grapple with the dynamics of leadership, such as team building and goal-setting, have been imperative in shaping my leadership style.”
Beacon Scholar 2020

“I have learned so much in the past nine months and gained a host of transferable skills. The Target Sheets, and specifically the feedback, have helped me home in on the skill set I need to become a well-rounded person. The leadership workshops have enhanced my team-building abilities, especially useful in my labs where the work is collective. Being a part of the Beacon community also inspires me a great deal, by simply being able to observe how my fellow peers carry themselves, pushing me to reach for a higher standard in all areas of my life.”
Beacon Scholar 2020

“Beacon has made me proactive in looking for ways to progress my leadership skills. This played an important role in my running for presidency of the East African Society at my university and the role of 3rd year Course Rep, both of which I have secured. Being in these roles instantly gave me additional responsibilities as I have to give direction to my committee as well as maintain communication between my cohorts and our course directors. The UK workshops have been a great help to my personal development as I take the learnings and applications to improve myself.”
Beacon Scholar 2020

“The Target Sheet has been infinitely helpful in keeping track of my goals this year, and I often referred to it to ensure that I hadn’t fallen astray from what I wanted to achieve. Such organizational skills pushed me to try out for leadership positions that I wouldn’t have realized I should go for, like Mistress of Moots of the entire university’s law society. The two workshops this year, on teamwork and self-management, helped supplement my own knowledge of leadership, and being surrounded by the other scholars, especially, helped me push myself. Their continued determination and strength continue to inspire me.”
Beacon Scholar 2020

“First off, the workshops organized by the Beacon have provided invaluable knowledge on both personal growth and leadership that have really improved my leadership skills. The best influence from the Scholarship, though, is that it has enabled me to meet amazing, smart, like-minded individuals from whom I have learned a lot, not only valuable leadership skills but also enabled me to identify relevant leadership strengths in myself that I did not realize I had.”
Beacon Scholar 2020

“This year, the workshops have heightened my self-awareness both emotionally and as a team player. Discovering the nine Belbin roles from workshops and the Pareto principle from wider reading have taught me to structure my tasks in order to meet targets efficiently. Moreover, the requirements for the award alongside a degree have sharpened my planning and time management skills. It would be remiss to not mention the noticeable improvement in my confidence and communication; in writing and in speech too. Lastly, speaking to the other scholars on the Sunday Zooms has indirectly honed my intuitive perception of people’s disposition.”
Beacon Scholar 2020

Parent Feedback

How has being a Beacon Scholar helped the Scholar during the course of the last year?

“Overall, the Beacon scholarship has instilled in XXX great discipline, education, and inspiration for her to grow as a responsible, bright, mature, and confident young lady, who is well equipped to play an important role in advocating for just policies and legislation, as well as protection for the rights of the most vulnerable.”
Beacon Parent 2023

“She knows what she wants to achieve as a Beacon scholar and has diligently worked towards achieving her objectives, challenges notwithstanding. It is also amazing how XXX so efficiently juggles her responsibilities as a student at Imperial College London, a Beacon scholar, a member of a community, and still spares time to catch up with her peers. I believe being able to maintain this balance is so critical in bringing up the whole person that is envisaged in the Beacon Scholarship.”
Beacon Parent 2023

“The scholarship has helped her to remain accountable and focused throughout the year, for example through the target sheets. The workshops have helped XXX develop leadership skills such as teamwork, problem solving, lateral thinking, etc., which could in the long run also be instrumental to her career development. Giving the scholar an opportunity to plan the baraza with fellow scholars has also greatly improved her communication skills and confidence. The seminars and peer-to-peer mentoring have developed her social network and enabled her to learn from her peers. It has also encouraged her to continue giving back to her community through the citizenship project every year.”
Beacon Parent 2023

“Being a Beacon Scholar has enhanced XXX’s confidence, ability to analyze areas where he can excel, and more importantly, take others with him. As such, he has enrolled in various university clubs and has a well-organized daily routine which helps him balance between university studies and other extracurricular activities, including a rigorous fitness routine. In inspiring others around him, XXX successfully applied to be a Hall Warden during the upcoming 2nd Year of Uni. This will involve active participation in Fresher’s Orientation sessions planned for new students during the First Year’s Fresher’s Day, through which XXX seeks to apply his leadership skills as a Beacon Scholar.”
Beacon Parent 2023

“Being a Beacon Scholar has helped XXX tremendously over the last year in various ways. In doing so, XXX has emerged as a strong leader, a conscious and focused person on his responsibilities, and he has also taken various leadership positions both at the university, at home, and at the community level. We have also noticed great personal development at the individual level. Being a Beacon scholar has been very impactful; all the training and the workshops, including the great exposure to an incredible team of gifted students and the Beacon team, have helped XXX to grow as a leader and a student and produced great results. Thank you very much for your great support.”
Beacon Parent 2023

“Over the past year, I have seen XXX grow, mature, and become more independent as a young lady, as a student, and a leader. She managed her own travel to university during a period of lockdown, moved to a country where she only knew a few people, and by the end of the year has been able to build a network of friends from her law school, residence, the tennis club, as well as from church fellowship groups. I was impressed when she told me that she was going to contest for the vice president of the university tennis club. This took courage and self-confidence in her leadership abilities. The campaign experience enabled her to expand her network, and she was successful. I am excited to witness her further growth in the next academic year.”
Beacon Parent 2022

“Since acquiring the Beacon Scholarship, XXX has shown more focus, drive, and discipline in both her studies and her daily life. She sets goals for herself and keeps herself accountable in achieving those goals. I have also seen an increase in her social and academic maturity – since she began her studies at XXX, she has become more curious about the world around her and loves to engage in discussions about her studies and the world at large. It has been a pleasure to see my daughter grow as an individual this year, and I can only hope that she can continue to grow as her time as a Beacon Scholar continues.”
Beacon Parent 2022

“As a Beacon Scholar, XXX has significantly matured in terms of independence and general view of life. She is able to live away from family and manage herself appropriately within limited means. She has understood that life is about balance and that she has to manage her time and other resources effectively to ensure that she is up to standard with her academics, other activities as a Beacon Scholar, and service to the community. She also appreciates the importance of staying focused on the goal despite many challenges that have to be surmounted. This, to me, is what leadership is all about. For this, I say a big thank you to the management of the Beacon Trust Fund and XXX University for this partnership in shaping XXX to be the leader that we so desire her to be.”
Beacon Parent 2022

“XXX has grown into a confident young man who is well-informed, curious, and participatory in his outlook towards issues. He is always looking at ways in which he can improve the society in which he lives and, more so, doing something tangible to change the life of others for the better. His leadership skills are being developed right before our eyes through the Beacon workshops and Target Sheets that help him stay focused on the direction he wishes to go. He has grown tremendously and actually enjoys and looks forward to the meet-ups and discussions held with his peers and mentors.”
Beacon Parent 2022

“Some of the remarkable things that XXX has demonstrated in his growth are the keenness to get involved in improving the youth, particularly in education and social development mentorship. He has participated in various forums for local young scholars and even gave them critical guidance in learning processes and good discipline in achieving their academic goals.”
Beacon Parent 2022

“Our sincere opinion is that XXX is very lucky to be a Beacon Scholar because he has had great exposure to appreciate different cultures. It has taught him to be independent and think logically about how to live on his own. The Covid-19 experience helped him to live on his own positively, far away from home. The scholarship helped him pursue his dream course, which he probably would not have done. His current self-confidence and esteem are high.”
Beacon Parent 2022

“XXX has benefited immensely from the Beacon Scholarship, particularly in shaping his character and nurturing his development in relation to society and his personality. Out of this, we have witnessed a well-groomed and maturing young man with a great sense of purpose, organized, dependable, and always willing to make a difference in other people’s lives. We are very grateful to Beacon for their visionary leadership and approach that is wholesome and aims at developing ethical change makers.”
Beacon Parent 2022

“Since completing her A-Levels and joining University under the Beacon University programme, we have seen XXXX’s confidence grow in leaps and bounds. She settled down well into University life despite the Covid-19 Pandemic, which has seen restrictions on social activities. Despite this, she has found other ways to be involved with university life and is thriving and hoped to be more involved as restrictions ease. XXXX is a member of the College Women’s Netball Team and plays centre and goal defence. She has participated in intercollege matches. She enrolled in the African Society and even attended a seminar.”
Beacon Parent 2021

“First, it is important to reiterate that the Beacon Scholarship has offered a welcome financial stability allowing XXXX to focus on her studies without having to worry about finances. Second is the emotional support from Beacon. Beacon has become the extended family. We feel that XXXX has been fortunate to turn strangers into friends, thereby eliminating the pervasive sense of loneliness and isolation that the Covid-19 pandemic introduced. The past year was particularly challenging on many fronts. Families were not able to reunite in the traditional sense. For this reason, the seminars organized by Beacon played a double role for XXXX and probably the other scholars who were not able to reunite with their families. The seminars were also a major boost, specifically the Mentoring Seminar, the Personal Brand Seminar, and the Wellbeing Seminar. We attribute to Beacon her renewed commitment to serve and support others using facts and logic to support her proposals. We are confident that with the support she is receiving from Beacon, she will grow to be seen as a credible resource having relevant expertise and experience whenever she is called upon.”
Beacon Parent 2021

“XXXX has grown as a leader during the scholarship. While we have not seen him since he left, it is evident that he has a new sense of maturity about issues. He engages very well with family issues and seems to be very active with his studies. As a Scholar, he has also found a new sense of responsibility for helping others. For example, he tries to stay in touch with his former school to support them by donating his time and skills to bring other students through the system. XXXX has always been a proactive boy, and the scholarship has allowed him to do this even more by providing new opportunities. During the last year, he has also become more independent thanks to the scholarship. Having to manage his own money by budgeting for every week and living on his own has made him more self-accountable. As a result, he has turned into a proactive and independent young leader during the last year.”
Beacon Parent 2021

“Since acquiring the Beacon Scholarship, XXXX has shown more focus, drive, and discipline in both her studies and her daily life. No longer requiring me to push her to achieve academically, XXXX sets goals for herself and keeps herself accountable in achieving those goals. I have also seen an increase in her social and academic maturity—since she began her studies at university, she has become more curious about the world around her and loves to engage in discussions about her studies and the world at large. It has been a pleasure to see my daughter grow as an individual this year, and I can only hope that she can continue to grow as her time at university continues.”
Beacon Parent 2021

“XXXX appears to have truly come into her own this past year because of the Beacon Scholarship. She has grown in confidence, is more proactive in securing things she cares about, and is, all around, an individual growing into her full potential. Her doggedness in designing an intervention in the Special Needs community in Kenya, and then raising the funds to finance her own internship, was genuinely impressive. Her leadership at the East African Society is evidence to me of XXXX tapping into her natural leadership potential, which would not be possible without this programme. In the past, she might have shied away from this; now, she is leading from the front.”
Beacon Parent 2021

“The pastoral support during this very difficult year has kept him going. He initially struggled with the full-time online study, and because of the disturbance and uncertainty brought by the pandemic even to the university, which led to the late release of study timetables, there was a domino effect that meant that he struggled a lot in the first semester. The visit to Uganda in November was a very welcome break he much needed. In a leadership sense, he has grown more confident in his abilities and in his ability to adapt quickly to situations that are ever-changing. We noticed when he was home that he was able to schedule his day and then reschedule it when something popped up. For example, while carrying out the Ambassador visits to schools in Uganda, he would still manage to schedule time to do his online study and work with Residence life, regardless of how busy the day was. The Beacon is grooming our boy into a man of stature, and not just in size, but in the person he is becoming.”
Beacon Parent 2021

“Being a Beacon Scholar has supported XXXX to continue to learn critical life and leadership skills such as agility, resilience, working in teams, problem solving, negotiation, presentation, and communication among others. She has grown in her ability to self-lead and lead others. The ability to appreciate the challenges that come with being a student and changing external contexts, such as those brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic isolation and lack of physical social connection, has developed the courage to admit the struggles she is facing and reach out for help and support. At the same time, I have seen her also offering support to others who are struggling. The peer-to-peer support and empathy offered by the Beacon programme is encouraging and is what makes a good human society.”
Beacon Parent 2021

“XXXX has put herself out there for the festival undergraduate research. It was great hearing how she was researching the manifestation of creativity in the Kenyan secondary school curriculum. She has also been able to rally her teammates to support her in her citizenship project. It is lovely to see all that equipment she has managed to get her teammates to donate to Njoro Girls. We have also been very impressed with her Instagram page, where she shares her culinary skills. She had the opportunity to undertake a master class where she had none other than Gordon Ramsay sharing his signature dishes. She has been able to talk about her experiences during the workshops in the Global Lounge Ambassadors. This experience put her in good stead when she embarked on looking for internships. The scholarship continues to avail her of wonderful opportunities and experiences.”
Beacon Parent 2021

“XXXX performed very well in his high school exams and gained admission to Bristol University among other World Class universities. Upon applying for and being awarded the Beacon Scholarship, XXXX had a seamless transition to university despite the pandemic. Beacon gave us the financial, logistical, and emotional support that we needed to make this happen, and we were very confident sending our son abroad despite a pandemic situation. Beacon appointed an older scholar to handhold XXXX, and we are very grateful to YYYY for his help. This was indeed the right decision, and XXXX was able to move things forward and get a little familiar with his university of choice, get the visa, and permit for his studies. Beacon has helped XXXX attend a world-class university, which is enabling him to follow his career dream in Finance while also growing his leadership skills. XXXX enjoys attending the Beacon Workshops and benefits a lot from them. He is able to apply the lessons learned in his daily life, and it has helped him face university life with confidence and zeal. He loves the Beacon family and knows that he has a great support network for his academic, social, and emotional support through his peers, older scholars, and the Beacon representatives. XXXX has developed a very high sense of responsibility and purpose in his studies. He has shown a remarkable improvement in the management of his studies and is also taking more initiative in social and community responsibility, where he has been engaging in a number of activities. This has also sharpened his focus on his career and leadership development.”
Beacon Parent 2021

“The COVID pandemic happened at a time when XXXX was on the interruption of her studies. Resuming her studies with the ongoing pandemic and with all the changes both in and out of the university would have been very challenging for XXXX. However, the networking and being part of the Beacon community helped her to stay connected and be part of people who have been caring and supportive of her. We particularly take special mention of the great and close relationship between XXXX and (a Beacon Staff Member); she was a great support system to XXXX, and we are forever indebted to her. The Personal Branding workshop really helped XXXX gain the confidence to put herself forward. This was a timely opportunity at a time when she was recovering from what was a difficult time for her. We are happy that because of the same she has secured an internship in London. We are also delighted that her project in Samburu has grown over the five years, and XXXX is continuing to dream about how to make it bigger, better, and impactful.”
Beacon Parent 2021

“We have witnessed growth in XXXX in many aspects in the last year. Despite the challenges students faced during lockdown, he came up with innovative ways to provide leadership to the East African Society at the University. The Beacon sessions on Team Building prepared him to work together with his committee and utilize technology to keep the society active and engaged. We commend the Beacon Team for providing timely and relevant sessions to the scholars. XXXX’s personality has become outward-facing, interactive, and bold. He no longer accepts limitations as he grows in confidence to take on bigger challenges. As a result, he has applied for numerous internship opportunities, eventually getting an on-campus opportunity. We are impressed that he is taking mentoring seriously as a way of giving back. This gave him the confidence to take on a young scholar that was reporting to the same university with him as they returned to school in October last year. Not only was he willing to travel with the student, but he continued to support him in settling in. But the biggest growth is that he now sees that he can, and should, demand more of himself in life.”
Beacon Parent 2021

“This past year we have noticed a considerable change in XXXX. Being a Beacon Scholar has helped her embody the character of the leader we believe that she is. The Beacon Workshops have allowed her to learn new skills and reminded her to monitor her own progress in order to achieve her goals. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year has been especially challenging socially and mentally. Nonetheless, we believe that the Beacon community has been essential in helping XXXX cope with the turbulent times. We are excited at the prospect of XXXX’s placement year in the industry, and we hope that she can put to use all the skills that she has picked up from being in the Beacon.”
Beacon Parent 2020

“XXXX being a Beacon Scholar has reflected a continuous maturing in many aspects of her life. Academically she’s having a much clearer vision about what she wants to do in her future, and she’s becoming more determined; she’s reflecting a higher level of discussing issues with objectivity. Still, XXXX is showing a growing capacity in her leadership qualities. I’ve seen it when she’s directing her younger brothers; also, I’m aware that she helped some students in their university applications, as well as prepared them for their interviews. Now I can see her having a better vision about her future, and being an engineering student gave her a structured way of thinking, plus all the leadership qualities that Beacon added to her. I can see that Beacon really helped her to be better equipped with a lot of leadership qualities to face the world outside the university soon.”
Beacon Parent 2020

“The current COVID-19 pandemic best highlights how much XXXX has grown as an individual. From coming to the UK on his own to handling staying by himself throughout the lockdown, it’s been amazing to see the change in his reasoning throughout the year. We are particularly impressed with his ability to adapt to a given situation. XXXX has, throughout the course of the pandemic, had to constantly switch through accommodations, with the pressure of exams, but has been able to remain focused and determined to get the best grades. He’s been able to do all this while remaining in touch with the family to assure us that he is doing well. Before the pandemic, XXXX still showed growth as an individual. From our discussions with him, we noticed the positive impact the Beacon has had on him in terms of setting goals and achieving them, something he is passing down to his younger siblings. He also talks often of the good company within the Beacon; it is for that reason he is constantly encouraging his sister to apply to join the Beacon, because he believes the scholars help bring out the best in the individual.”
Beacon Parent 2020

“Being a Beacon Scholar has continued to help XXXX grow in her leadership skills both as a leader of self and leader of others. She has also learnt other key coping and success skills such as managing stress and working with others. The feedback from the various Beacon leadership and management skills workshops has helped her to improve and grow in self-awareness and confidence.”
Beacon Parent 2020

“Financially, XXXX was able to focus on her studies and not have to stress about having to work in order to pay for her tuition, accommodation, and food. She also led a less hectic life and was therefore able to incorporate sports and exercise and lead a balanced lifestyle. It made the transition from high school to university much easier. Respect and appreciation: We noticed that she recognized that she was studying in one of the top universities. She would always talk about the fact that she was getting global exposure and she was developing great interpersonal skills. Motivation: The performance targets set at the start of the year have really given her a sense of purpose, such as making sure that her grades were either a first or 2:1. The expectation on making sure that they network and connect with people has seen her gain self-confidence in approaching people from the education sector back home.”
Beacon Parent 2020

“The positive pressure on XXXX to perform above and beyond her natural inclination is obvious to see. I do not think as a family we would have been able to emphasize the need for hard work beyond words; Beacon is able to actualize words into action through contact hours for mentoring, trainings, and deliverables. I have noticed a visible change in confidence, and determined arguments in areas of failings in leadership and lifestyle of Kenyans in particular and a desire to borrow and adopt admirable traits seen in London to Nairobi – e.g. law and order, cleanliness, timeliness, advances, and application of technology in everyday activities, e.g. control of traffic. Beacon’s support during her Fresher year made it less daunting, and when I finally visited, I found her well settled with a robust system of support. Beacon’s support during COVID-19 has also helped her understand that this is not only affecting her but many other souls; this has made it much easier to manage the expectation of “stay at home,” not only for her but for the entire family.”
Beacon Parent 2020

“Being a Beacon Scholar has transformed XXXX from a shy, laid-back lad to a proactive and engaged young man willing to put himself out there and get involved. He has become more confident, increased his self-esteem, and belief in himself. He has learnt to negotiate for win-win outcomes, a skill he alludes to Beacon engagements. We saw him use these skills during his campaign for President of the East African Society at his university. He continues to surprise us with his initiative and boldness to enter into leadership roles. The Beacon Citizenship projects have made XXXX conscious of the issues affecting our world. He has become concerned about the decline in the number of girls in science-based careers and, over the last two years, participated in projects that create awareness at this level. He is realizing that to change certain things, one needs to find a way to be at the policymaking table. As a result, he is becoming more confident in finding leadership opportunities even at the family level. Overall, Beacon has assisted XXXX not only to gain the education he pursues but also to impact his world for small changes as he goes along.”
Beacon Parent 2020

“XXXX has become more focused because of Beacon. She has a clear vision of what she wants to achieve in life, and Beacon has been the dominant driving force behind this. She has said how the Target Sheets have taught her how to plan out what she wants to achieve and use it to track and progress, and plan ahead. She continually says how the other Beacon scholars inspire her greatly and push her to greater levels; they make her believe that there is no real limit to what a student can do. She viewed the citizenship project as the greatest learning opportunity, a way to educate herself on Kenya. She said it helped immerse her directly into the lives of the Kenyan citizens to see how amazing and underprivileged they really are, and she now thinks about what she can further do to help such people that greatly inspired her. Her confidence is still increasing every day, and Beacon has directly contributed to this. XXXX also said how the year’s two workshops, especially the one on self-management, taught her a lot and has contributed to how she manages her daily life.”
Beacon Parent 2020

“Getting the Beacon Scholarship was the best thing that happened to XXXX because:
It has enabled him to grow as a person, and these days during phone calls, he sounds a lot more sure of himself and talks from a mature perspective especially in terms of career path.
It also enabled him to pursue his dream course in a world-class institution, which would have been unlikely.
His self-esteem and confidence have greatly improved.
It has provided him the task of managing his own life and finances far away from home, which has made him more organized and responsible.
It has impacted him by appreciating cultures that were unknown to him.”
Beacon Parent 2020

“In the last year XXXX has successfully moved to start life in a new country on her own. I have watched her form new relationships and networks in this new environment, and maneuver the difficulties of not only adjusting to living away from home, but under the guidance of the Beacon she has developed money management skills and is gradually learning to embrace uncertainty and change. The Beacon Leadership programme has made a dream come true for XXXX and for us. The mentoring and university experience has further strengthened her resolve to work for her future and be a leader and history-maker. It is inspiring to see how passionate she is in mentoring other students from her old schools, church youth groups, cousins, and friends in the extended family – motivating them to work harder at their dreams and deepening their faith. I have seen great improvement in her organization, communication, and negotiation skills. Her strength and clarity of communication have positively surprised us. These skills, which she no doubt developed from the various workshops and discussions this past year, have been her greatest asset in her response to the pandemic. XXXX has displayed immense strength in dealing with the Covid pandemic – beyond anybody’s expectations. The stress of having a child out in the woods has been greatly alleviated by her constant meetings via social media channels, with us and her siblings. She has successfully rallied in lots of support from Beacon, her local church youth group in Bristol and Eldoret, and she has pooled in lots of social capital from contacts we didn’t know she had, generating immense energy which keeps us and all those around her strong. We are very proud of who she is and how she has turned out to be in one year.”
Beacon Parent 2020

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