The Safaricom Youth Orchestra Marks its 8th Graduation Ceremony

It marks the first physical graduation ceremony since the start of the pandemic in 2020

Nairobi, Kenya 4^th April 2022… Safaricom (NSE: SCOM)  marked the eighth Safaricom Youth Orchestra graduation ceremony at an event held at the Jain Bhavan Centre in Loresho on Sunday 3^rd April 2022.

During the ceremony, 18 graduates were awarded certificates in orchestral music after learning to play various instruments ranging from the flute to the alto sax, trumpet and violin.

Based on this year’s theme, Play it Forward, students were encouraged to go out into the world and make a difference through acts of kindness such as volunteering their skills or mentoring others who are pursuing the same musical path.

“I am honoured to celebrate the great milestones that the Safaricom Youth Orchestra have achieved this year. The members have been resilient and made great strides in fulfilling their musical dreams and have continued to excel in their endeavours. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID19 pandemic, the members leveraged on technology and quickly adapted to learning and rehearsing virtually. The orchestra promotes all-around growth in music and life skills, and this graduation ceremony is a testament to the dedication of both the tutors and students,” said Peter Ndegwa, Safaricom CEO.

With the disruptions brought on by the pandemic, Safaricom has held the last two graduation events virtually and provided over 100 members of the orchestra with 4G-enabled mobile handsets and airtime to enable them attend rehearsals virtually.

“I'd like to thank the administration and our tutors at the Safaricom Youth Orchestra for their hard work and dedication. I do not take this opportunity to join the orchestra for granted, as we have received excellent education that will carry us through life. I appreciate the continued support we have received, and the many opportunities provided for my fellow members and I. I am also grateful to my parents for encouraging me and supporting my dream to pursue my passion for music,” said Sammy Kiama, Safaricom Youth Orchestra graduate.

The Safaricom Youth Orchestra was launched in 2014 by the late Bob Collymore with the aim of bringing together gifted and talented students and tutors to make beautiful music. So far, over 145 students have graduated and progressed to pursue their university education to specialize in different disciplines. The orchestra draws 60% of its students from underprivileged backgrounds and 40% from public and private schools.

“I would like to thank Safaricom for following through on its commitment to change the lives of young talented Kenyans through music. The opportunities it avails to learn and perform at high standards and to broaden the horizons for many are amazing. The whole industry has grown in leaps and bounds, and the future has never looked brighter.” said Elizabeth Njoroge, Art of Music.

This year’s auditions to join the Safaricom Youth Orchestra will be held virtually and end in mid-April for the class starting in May 2022.

The orchestra’s year is divided into three terms, May to July, August to December and finally January to March, which is when students have completed their high school education.

The 2021- 2022 class had eight girls and eleven boys drawn from various parts of the country