A scholarship to train a doctor where doctors are lacking. An investment in the future of healthcare in Kenya.
In Kenya, there are approximately two doctors for every 10.000 inhabitants. In Italy, there are approximately 42. This gap illustrates, better than any statistic, how much access to healthcare still depends on where one is born. This awareness underpins the three-year scholarship funded by the AEM Foundation (A2A Group) for a student in the Medicine and Surgery program at Pwani University. The initiative, developed in collaboration with the University of Milan, World Friends, and the Kenyan university, has a specific goal: to invest in the training of those who will strengthen the healthcare system in the country's coastal region.
The €15.000 grant will cover tuition fees and part of the course materials required for completion of the program for three years. This support is particularly significant because Pwani University only launched its Medicine and Surgery program in 2023 and, until 2025, was the only medical school in the entire coastal region of Kenya, a region where access to higher education and healthcare services has historically been limited. The university aims to train professionals capable of working in rural and disadvantaged communities, helping to reduce the chronic shortage of healthcare professionals.
The initiative is the result of a collaboration that combines academic expertise and international cooperation. Working alongside the AEM Foundation were Professor Giovanni Felisati, Professor Maria Paola Canevini, and Professor Filippo Martinelli Boneschi of the University of Milan, World Friends, and Pwani University. This collaboration builds on a long-standing relationship: World Friends has been working in Kenya for over twenty years to strengthen healthcare systems and train medical personnel, and since 2023 it has been directly collaborating with Pwani University to support research, training, and capacity development in Kilifi County.
To identify the beneficiary, an internal call for applications was published for third-year medical students. Applicants had to demonstrate academic achievement, motivation to serve the community, and document any financial difficulties that could compromise their continued studies. Ten students participated in the selection process. The evaluation was conducted by Rewards and Sanctions Committee of the School of Medicine through a structured system that took into consideration merit, motivation, resilience, character and financial need.
At the end of the program, Naomi Kahonzi Mulewa, a third-year medical student, was selected. Despite the close scores of applicants, the final decision went to the candidate who best met the scholarship's objectives: combining a solid academic record with a strong motivation to serve the community and proven financial vulnerability. During her education, Naomi has already gained experience in community medicine and healthcare in Kilifi County, and has expressed her desire to contribute to reducing inequalities in access to healthcare and to give back through outreach and support initiatives for future students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The announcement of the winner took place on 7 July 2026 in the presence of representatives of Pwani University, World Friends andfrom the University of Milan. The scholarship will begin with the new academic year, scheduled for October. More than supporting a single student's career, the initiative represents an investment in the future of healthcare on the Kenyan coast: training a doctor in an area where doctors are still too few means contributing, over time, to improving access to healthcare for thousands of people.
