A team of development partners from Finland are in Elgeyo Marakwet to take stock of partnership programs jointly undertaken with the County Government.
Governor Alex Tolgos on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, hosted the team led by Carita Prokki, the Director of Global Education Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK), and Peter Perttula – Director Global Partnerships (TAKK).
Elgeyo Marakwet County has in the recent past sent 25 Nursing students to Finland to study degree courses and is in the process to send the second batch of students.
Speaking in the Governor’s Office in Iten, Prokki said the first cohort of the Elgeyo Marakwet students is currently in their second internship in Finland’s countryside.
She said the Kenyan learners were guaranteed jobs in Europe with attractive remuneration packages as soon as they graduate.
Prokki said she was happy to be personally back in Kenya after the Coronavirus Pandemic which disrupted various activities globally.
The meeting also discussed further areas in which the County Government of Elgeyo Marakwet could partner with Tampere Municipality to help in addressing the Waste Management system in Iten Municipality.
The establishment of a one ‘state of the art’ Vocational Training Institute that will be fully equipped facility could also be realized.
Prokki said her agency was also keen towards helping in the establishment of a rescue Centre in Elgeyo Marakwet County which would address the plight of Mothers and Children.
There were presentations from the departments of Sports, Health, Environment, and Technical Education with a view to identifying possible areas of partnerships that would be of great benefit to the electorate.
The delegation thereafter met a host of Elgeyo Marakwet parents whose children are in Europe at NEMA offices where they assured them that the Nursing students were comfortable.
“There is an acute shortage of nurses in Finland and therefore the 25 students were guaranteed employment in Finland Hospitals,” said Prokki.
Pertulla said airlifting Nurses from Elgeyo Marakwet to Finland was not going to be the end since there was cooperation in place to further the program to accommodate other courses.
“This is a living testimony that we can explore alternative opportunities in the International market to help our people realize their potential,” said Tolgos whose County government was the first one in the region to airlift students to Scandinavia.
Cornelius Kiplagat, a director of Max Global, said the Elgeyo Marakwet students in Finland were already living large and sending money to Kenya and this, he said was impactful.
Similar sentiments were shared by Janet Jeruto, the Program Coordinator who praised some of the students for transforming their families back home even while still schooling.
