The Laurence Andersen Philip Bagenal (LAPB) Scholarship Fund
The LAPB fund is a dedicated scheme for children who wish to achieve greater things through further or higher education. For those pupils leaving secondary school with high marks in their final exams the fund offers the chance of continuing their education.
In Kenya, primary school education is free, while secondary school education must be paid for by a child’s family or carers. This means that many disadvantaged children receive only a minimal secondary education, if any at all.
The St Jerome’s Centre pays the secondary school fees for each child where they have full-time responsibility for their welfare. For some children, St Jerome’s can be their home from ages 5-17 years. The transition from school into the world of work is a delicate time for any young person. It is that much more difficult when a school student has a dream of continuing to college or university education but no funding is available.
For high achieving school leavers, an LAPB scholarship offers the opportunity of the costs of study at a college or university being paid. Applying for an LAPB scholarship is a competitive process and applications are assessed by an independent panel.
Why Your Gift is so Important
Supporters of the St Jerome’s Centre established the LAPB Scholarship Fund to provide an award that will cover the fees, accommodation and living costs needed in further education. The fund is currently in it’s fundraising stage and when operational, will enable selected young people to continue their education and be supported by a mentor throughout the time they are at college or university.
Naomi's hopes for the future
Naomi became part of the St Jerome’s family after tragically losing both parents to domestic violence and suicide. The love and schooling provided by St Jerome’s supported her growth into the compassionate, hardworking young woman she is today. Naomi excelled in her KCSE exams (equivalent to A-Levels), and after securing funding from St Jerome’s supporters and the Kenyan government, became the first of two children from St Jerome’s to enrol in higher education. Currently, Naomi is studying tourism and management at Laikipia East College. The opportunities made possible by higher education will give her the independence to break the cycle of deprivation and poverty which holds so many back.
With your help and support, the LAPB scholarship will provide opportunities for students like Naomi.
If you would like more information on the LAPB scholarship fund, including how to help, please email: lapbeducation@gmail.com, or fill out the form below.
Why the name LAPB?
The Laurence Andersen Philip Bagenal (LAPB) Fund recognises the spirit and generosity of two dearly loved family members. Two men, a generation apart, who died from cancer. In their memory the LAPB Scholarship Fund was established to support further education for disadvantaged young people in Kenya.
Philip’s experience of Kenya was from a different era. Philip was born in Nyeri, Kenya, in 1948. His parents both qualified vets had left post-war England on a UK government scheme and settled in Nanyuki. He always had stories of adventures whilst at school in Kitale. Philip died of cancer in 2016. He would be keen to support further education for young adults in Kenya where his schooling began.
In 2014, Laurence (Larry) made a visit to St Jerome’s with his great school friend and St Jerome’s trustee, David Barkwill. Laurence came home full of praise for the centre whose children had ” so little but were always so happy.” Laurence was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2015 and he didn’t get the chance to revisit Kenya as he died in 2017, aged 24. Laurence set up a regular donation to St Jerome’s and a legacy in his will. The LAPB fund keeps alive his wish to help young people pursue the dream of further education.