By Eddah Waithaka
Kenya Airways has donated a decommissioned Boeing 737-700 Next Generation (NG) aircraft to Mang’u High School. This significant contribution will offer students invaluable hands-on learning experiences, fostering a deeper understanding of the aviation industry and inspiring aspiring pilots, engineers, and aviation professionals.
The donation followed a formal inspection by a delegation from the school, marking a pivotal moment in the partnership between the airline and the educational institution. With this aircraft, Kenya Airways is not only investing in the next generation but also reinforcing its commitment to supporting education and career development in Kenya.
This initiative, the first of its kind in Africa, highlights Kenya Airways’ and Mang’u High School’s shared commitment to advancing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and aviation education for young minds.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Kenya Airways, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, Hellen Mathuka said, “This aircraft, which once soared through the skies connecting people and places, now begins a new chapter in its story. At Mang’u High School, it will become a unique classroom, a hands-on resource to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary for careers in aviation, engineering, and technology.”
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The arrival of the Boeing 737-700 NG is set to significantly enrich the existing aviation program at Mang’u High School, which already includes a caravan aircraft utilized for aviation classes.
This new addition will offer students invaluable hands-on learning experiences, allowing them to explore aviation systems and operations firsthand while still in secondary school.
Anthony Maina Mithanga, Chairman of Mang’u High School, heralded the donation as a transformative milestone, affirming the institution’s status as a premier center for aviation education.
“The aircraft will serve as an educational tool to reinforce the principle, “What you can see, you can be” inspiring our students to dream big, innovate, and take the lead in the aviation industry and beyond,” he stated.
The successful implementation of the project resulted from a partnership between Kenya Airways, the KCB Foundation, Crown Paints, and the technical teams from Kenya Airways and Bonafide Group.
After being reassembled and installed on the school campus, the aircraft will function as an innovative educational resource, enabling students to investigate aviation systems, operations, and technology in a practical setting. In addition to this initiative, Kenya Airways also offers students from various institutions the opportunity to visit their Embakasi hub.
There, they can experience the operations of a major airline up close and interact with pilots and engineers, providing them with valuable insights into the industry.
This forward-thinking strategy, fueled by the airline’s dedication to fostering the next generation of aviators, seeks to meet the increasing demand for skilled professionals within the aviation industry.
This initiative is designed to enhance the development of a robust aviation sector in Africa. Over the years, Kenya Airways has gained from the expertise of numerous graduates from Mang’u High School. Presently, more than 40 alumni have become pilots, and over 20 have pursued careers as aeronautical and aerospace engineers.
