Aiming to create a difference in the society through science

The vital importance of gender equality has often been proclaimed, but the world still under looks women more than men in the field of science, making it male-dominated.

According to the assembly committee on Science and Technology, although nearly half of the science undergraduates are female, fewer women scientists reach leading positions in science fields as they are perceived as the weaker gender.

With centuries evolving, women and girls have risen in rank and play a critical role in science, and research, and their participation should be strengthened to promote technology around the globe. Not only have they changed the course of thinking in different scientific domains but have assisted in improving research outcomes.

Rita Yvette a beneficiary of UKR’s university and colleges scholarship program and is currently a third year pursuing a Bachelor’s in Laboratory Science (A course entailing testing of specimen and blood samples in medical laboratories and research centers) at Mount Kenya University (MKU) is among the few women in science who strive to make a difference in today’s society.

Rita acknowledges that through science she can mitigate society’s problems like the treatment of infectious diseases by participating in or conducting research aimed at coming up with solutions to tackle the issues.

Rita attests that the support she received from UKR has immensely contributed to the advancement of her career by enabling her to enroll in Mount Kenya University which has one of the best learning facilities in place.

“Mount Kenya University is developing me into a responsible citizen. I am so in love with the institution as all the equipment needed for practical sessions is available. There is also a hospital adjacent to the school premises where we go to assist in tending to patients as part of our lessons. I’m allowed to get blood samples and other specimens from patients and do tests at the lab to determine illnesses,” she shares.

She adds “UKR has also been critical in this academic journey. The educational support has vastly contributed to a smooth flow in my academics and also shaped me career-wise. I will forever be indebted for their support.”

Coming from a less privileged community where access to basic resources such as clean water is deprived, members, especially children and the elderly are highly prone to infectious diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and stomach flu.

These occurrences displease Rita who has convinced her course mates to assist her in research to find possible solutions to the above situation, a task which they create time for after classes.

“Finding a long-term solution to these issues will be my way of giving back to the community which brought me up. It will also enhance development as resources wasted on battling these illnesses could be placed in innovation for the growth of infrastructure,” reveals Rita.

Being a woman in the field of science positively challenges Rita to give her best for other young girls to be able to look up to her.

“I feel it’s a privileged opportunity to be pursuing this course because there is a small percentage of women doing science, or rather passionate in the field of science. This, therefore, gives me a reason to work hard so that I can stand out from my peers who are pursuing scientific courses.” She explains.

In her free time, Rita promotes different brands of detergents in supermarkets and earns income that sustains herself. Rita, being a girl in the science field participates in several research groups to make meaningful contributions to society in terms of mitigating other challenges facing them like lack of knowledge on preventing pandemics such as Covid-19.

Rita is very ambitious and already has plans on majoring at the postgraduate level. She wants to do bench work and major in phlebotomy, to treat blood-related disorders and carry out transfusions to save humanity.

At UKR, we are proud of Rita for her contribution to society by using science to come up with solutions to challenges that face us, especially in the health sector. We affirm our commitment to enabling students like Rita who are in our programs to achieve their dreams through the provision of scholarships and educational support that will strengthen their educational foundation.