A 21-year-old farmer and university student from Kitale is about to brush shoulders with the world's high and mighty thanks to an honour he bagged from the Royal family.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, August 12, the UK Royal family nominated Gregory Kipchirchir from Kitale for a Duke of Edinburg's International Award along four other contestants.
Kipchirchir has converted his family's half acre parcel into a thriving agricultural farm that is not just providing food for his family but also the surplus is sold in the market.
In a video that was shared by the Royal Family online, Kipchichir revealed that he had dedicated his time to learning good agricultural practices and tasked himself with teaching his community on how to make their land parcels productive as well.
"For my award, I have been learning on various agricultural practices and has seen me raise food for my family. I have also taken the initiative of teaching my fellow young people on various agricultural practices.
"Since the government directed the closure of all schools, I took the responsibility of teaching other young people on the skills. Amazingly, they have all embraced this, they no longer stay idle at home," he added.
Kipchirchir won the Presidential Award in Kenya in June 2020 for his story about ways to change rural livelihoods during the pandemic.
He was selected to represent Kenya at the international award where he is battling it out with citizens from Canada, Czech Republic as well as Indonesia.
His relative, Emily Lagat, noted that Kipchirchir has been hardworking and the fruits of his labour are beginning to show.
"I am so happy and I have seen he has done a really good job and his work has inspired the world," she stated.
He revealed that he hosts about a dozen youth on his farm to teach them the best farming practices and follows up with them.
"Whilst Covid-19 has brought exceptional challenge and change to every corner of the globe, we have been so inspired by the ways in which young people have responded," stated The Duke of Edinburg's International Award Foundation Secretary-General John May.
What is the Duke of Edinburg award
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is a non-formal education and learning framework operating in more than 130 countries and territories around the world, through which young people’s achievements outside of academia are recognised and celebrated.
According to the award's website, the award aims at uplifting the youth worldwide targetting individuals aged between 14 and 24 years.
"It is our long term ambition that every eligible young person aged 14 – 24 will have the opportunity to participate in the Award.
"Our vision is that 20% of them are from at risk and marginalised communities for whom the Award can be truly life-changing," read a statement from the royal family.
Below is the video of Kipchirchir:
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