The empowerment of female students from deprived backgrounds through education for social transformation – A study of Tangaza University College, Nairobi, East Africa

Abstract

The research focused on the empowerment of female students for social transformation at Tangaza University College, whose core values consist of Catholic social teachings. The college provides higher education to young people who would otherwise not have the opportunity for higher studies. Of the 2,000+ college students, 1,500 receive partial or full scholarships. The aim of the study was to find out how Tangaza fulfils its mission of educating for social transformation, from the responses of female students from low to very low income families. These are in two groups: female students mostly from squatter areas in the city of Nairobi, and the women religious, who primarily come from villages where primary and secondary education is sadly inadequate. The study makes use of a synthesis of theories of empowerment compiled by a social scientist, Mann Hyung Hur. The results showed how Tangaza’s education for social transformation has empowered its female students in the three areas of personal growth, job competence and social responsibility. However, there are differing degrees of empowerment among the three categories. An analysis is done of the differences between the three areas of empowerment, and recommendations are made. The sample population consists of women graduates of Tangaza University College from the academic years 2010-2017.