Kenyan student nominated for Sh13m global prize

Hemanshi Galaiya has been nominated for the Global Student Prize. (Courtesy)

Hemanshi Galaiya, a 28-year-old Kenyan student at the University of Queensland in Australia, has been named among 50 finalists from around the world for the 2024 chegg.org Global Student Prize.

Ms Galaiya is a PhD candidate and the founder of Young Stripes, an initiative aimed at giving students early exposure and inspiration into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

“The programme seeks to inspire young people through practical and hands-on science education and leadership incubation so that they can see the rewards in these fields and ultimately reach their full potential,” she said.

The Global Student Prize, valued at $100,000 (Sh13 million), is presented to an exceptional student making real impact on learning, the lives of their peers, and society.

Galaiya’s initiative seeks to generate educational equity by leveraging practical and frugal science exercises to showcase real-world applications of STEM.

“Our programme runs in various schools, engaging learners as young as four."