Cynthia Nyongesa, a 27-year-old Kenyan is among fifty candidates shortlisted for the Chegg.org Global Student Prize 2023 of $100,000.
Judges picked Nyongesa, a student at Cape Town in South Africa, from over 3,851 applicants from 122 countries across the world.
The Chegg.org Global Student Prize goes to youth with outstanding achievements from around the world.
It recognizes an exceptional student who has made an impact on learning, the lives of their agemates and society.
Congratulations to Cynthia Nyongesa
While commenting about her achievements, Heather Hatlo Porter, head of Chegg.org and Chief Communication Officer, said the world is at a critical turning point facing some of the greatest challenges in history.
Further, he said students worldwide are keenly aware of this urgency, and they are leveraging their ingenuity to overcome the significant obstacles facing them to build a better future for us all.
“Congratulations to Cynthia Nyongesa. Chegg not only celebrates your achievements but also the endless possibilities that exist when young minds are driven by a passion for change.
The Top 50 Global Student Prize finalists deserve the opportunity to have their stories told and have their voices heard. Their dreams, wisdom, and inventive spirit will illuminate a more hopeful future for everyone, “he said.
Also, Sunny Varkey, founder of Varkey Foundation, congratulated Nyongesa saying her story is key in creating a better world.
Additionally, he noted that her contribution is important in providing solutions to human challenges including war and climate change.
“As time runs out to achieve the sustainable development goals, it is more important than ever to prioritize education so we can face the future with confidence,” Varkey said.
Top Ten Finalists
Organizers will announce the top ten finalists of the Global Competition in August.
Global Student Prize Academy will select the winner from the top ten finalists and make the announcement later this year.
Applications and nominations for the 2023 prize were opened on January 19 and closed on May 14.
Cynthia Nyongesa Story
Cynthia Nyongesa is a lawyer and an advocate of the High Court from Kenya with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nairobi.
She has a passion for international human rights, media law and intellectual property and has worked with UNICEF Kenya as a Youth Advocate.
Through this, she supported Communication, Advocacy and Partnership team to reach out to children and youth in Kenya.
In addition, she advocated for their rights through UNICEF digital platforms and workshops.
Further, Cynthia Nyongesa served as the Generation Unlimited Youth Ambassador from Kenya.
In this position, she advises the global secretariat and the office of the President on its governance and advocacy structured towards the youth.
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Cynthia Nyongesa has championed for the right to education through the Global Partnership for Education where she collaborated with Kenya and United Kingdom.
She managed to raise $4 billion to educate vulnerable children across the world.
At the same time, she runs a blog called Cynthia Untamed, which is a digital platform that amplifies the stories of young change makers in Africa.
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Chegg.org Global Student Prize
The Varkey Foundation partnered with Chegg.org to launch the annual Global Student Prize in 2021, a sister award to its $1million Global Teacher Prize.
The intention was to create a powerful new platform that shines a light on the efforts of extraordinary students everywhere who, together, are reshaping our world for the better.
The prize is open to all students who are at least 16 years old and enrolled in an academic institution or training and skills programme.
Part-time students as well as students enrolled in online courses are also eligible for the prize.
Students applying for the Global Student Prize are assessed on their academic achievement, impact on their peers, how they make a difference in their community and beyond, how they overcome the odds to achieve, how they demonstrate creativity and innovation, and how they operate as global citizens.