You can help shape her future

A Kenyan student stands a good chance of winning a coveted university scholarship in Canada.

In a global competition, Ms Lorries Mukirazi is just five places within striking distance of making the 20-student list.

And now, all you have to do is spare a minute on the Internet and vote for the Kenyatta University student, who is competing against a 100 candidates.

She is at position 25 and in line to study in a Canadian university of her choice.

“I have received more than 27,000 votes by now, but I need much more before October 16 if I am to beat the international competitors,” says Ms Mukirazi.

The Kitui campus-based Ms Mukirazi was born in Kakamega, Western Kenya in 1989 to a humble family.

The first born daughter of Margaret Maywaka studied at Mukumu Girls High School and attained a grade B in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination.

“I have two heroines in my life. The first is my mother; the second is a Canadian lady, Ms Lorrie Williams who sponsored my mother through high school,” she says.

Ms Williams is the founder of the Canadian Harambee Education Society (CHES), through which Ms Mukirazi stands the chance to win the full university scholarship.

The relationship between the Canadian and Mrs Maywaka goes back 26 years when she saw the latter through both high school and college education.

And now, history seems to be repeating itself if voters help the girl secure the scholarship.

“Competition is probably stiffest from the developed countries where they have a lot more access to the Internet,” says Ms Williams.

“All we need to do is get as many people as possible to vote by visiting the website www.classactcanada.com.”

All you have to do is to click on the picture of the Kenyan girl, Lorrie Mukiraza, after the pictures of the finalists appear.

She is the black girl in the picture with the blue background and a plant on the side.

“You can click ten times, once every 24 hours,” says Mr Raphael Tuju, a presidential advisor, who has been clicking and voting besides rallying his friends to do the same.

“What an easy way to change the life of a Kenyan girl!”

Mr Tuju has in the last five years worked with Ms Williams, to sponsor more than 40 girls from Kenya access higher education.

The door of opportunity for Lorrie Mukirazi closes on October 16.

She is banking on your vote.