{"id":9542,"date":"2026-04-29T12:19:45","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T08:19:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/?p=9542"},"modified":"2026-04-29T12:37:42","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T08:37:42","slug":"message-from-dr-rasha-kelej-ceo-of-merck-foundation-marking-a-landmark-moment-in-supporting-girl-education-through-the-educating-linda-program-at-kenya-state-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/?p=9542","title":{"rendered":"Message from Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, marking a landmark moment in supporting girl education through the \u201cEducating Linda\u201d Program at Kenya State House"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Main_Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9543\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Main_Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Main_Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Main_Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Main_Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Main_Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Main_Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em><strong>Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO with Kenya First Lady at Kenya State House during the launch of Educating Linda Program.<\/strong><\/em><\/p><p class=\"has-text-align-center\">I am happy to share that we have officially launched our Educating Linda Program to support girl education, in partnership with&nbsp;<strong>the First Lady of Kenya and Ambassador&nbsp;<\/strong>of&nbsp;<strong>\u201cMerck Foundation More Than a Mother\u201d<\/strong>, at the<strong>&nbsp;Kenya State House<\/strong>. The program was chaired by the&nbsp;<strong>Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp, myself, and the First Lady of Kenya, H.E. Mrs. Rachel Ruto, E.G.H.<\/strong><\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-1024x683.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9544\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-600x400.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady.jpeg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em><strong>Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO &nbsp;with Kenya First Lady.<\/strong><\/em><\/p><p>As part of&nbsp;<strong>Educating Linda,<\/strong>&nbsp;we are providing annual&nbsp;<strong>scholarships to 47 deserving, high performing<\/strong>, yet underprivileged Kenyan schoolgirls, until they complete their education. This will ensure they are not forced to abandon their education due to financial hardship. We truly believe that an educated girl transforms the entire community.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"612\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-9-1024x612.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9545\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-9-1024x612.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-9-300x179.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-9-768x459.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-9-1536x919.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-9-600x359.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-9.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em><strong>Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO with Kenya First Lady at Kenya State House during the launch of Educating Linda Program.<\/strong><\/em><\/p><p>During the program, together with the First Lady of Kenya, we took the opportunity to meet and encourage the Kenyan schoolgirls who are beneficiaries of the Educating Linda Program, and to hear directly from them and their parents about the impact the scholarships have had on their lives.&nbsp;The Educating Linda Program by Merck Foundation, in partnership with African First Ladies, is providing annual scholarships to more than&nbsp;<em><strong>1,250 schoolgirls across 21 African countries, including Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 and Pr\u00edncipe, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and others<\/strong><\/em>. The program also ensures that thousands of schoolgirls across Africa receive essential school supplies, removing further practical obstacles to their education.&nbsp;When a girl is educated, an entire nation is empowered. Educated girls grow into empowered women who drive prosperity, strengthen families, and advance nations. That is the vision behind everything we do: girl education today for women empowerment tomorrow.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"619\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program--1024x619.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9546\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program--1024x619.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program--300x181.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program--768x464.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program--1536x928.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program--600x363.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em><strong>Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO with Kenya First Lady at Kenya State House during the launch of Educating Linda Program.<\/strong><\/em><\/p><p>Moreover, we have provided\u00a0<strong>328 scholarships for Kenyan healthcare providers in 44 critical and underserved specialties<\/strong>, including Diabetes, Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Oncology, Fertility, Embryology, Sexual and Reproductive Medicine, Gastroenterology, Psychiatry, Neurology, and many more. During the visit, we also conducted our\u00a0<strong>Alumni Summit 2026, together with Kenya First Lady, to acknowledge and meet our alumni. Moreover, we met and recognized the Merck Foundation Awards winners of 2024 and 2025.<\/strong><\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-5-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9547\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-5-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-5-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-5-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-5-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-5-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-5.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>In partnership with the First Lady of Kenya, we are launching seven children\u2019s storybooks titled<strong>&nbsp;\u201cMore Than a Mother\u201d, \u201cEducating Linda\u201d, \u201cJackline\u2019s Rescue\u201d, \u201cNot Who You Are\u201d, \u201cRide into the Future\u201d, \u201cSugar Free Jude\u201d, and \u201cMark\u2019s Pressure\u201d<\/strong>. These storybooks address critical social and health issues and will be available in both English and Swahili. Thousands of copies of these storybooks will be distributed to schoolchildren across Kenya.<\/p><p>We also annually launch eight important awards for excellence in&nbsp;<strong>media, film, fashion design, and song<\/strong>. Together, we have also conducted several editions of the Merck Foundation Health Media Training Program, enabling Kenyan journalists to be equipped to be the voice of the voiceless and report responsibly and effectively on sensitive topics, including&nbsp;<strong>infertility, child marriage, gender based violence, diabetes, and hypertension<\/strong>.<\/p><p>I invite the media and creative community apply for the awards, by clicking&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/merck-foundation.com\/Awards-Online-Application-Form\">here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Kind regards,<br>Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.)<br>CEO of Merck Foundation<\/strong><\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"525\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-3-1024x525.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9548\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-3-1024x525.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-3-300x154.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-3-768x394.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-3-1536x787.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-3-600x308.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-3.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-4-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9549\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-4-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-4-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-4-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-4-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-4-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-4.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-6-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9550\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-6-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-6-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-6-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-6-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-6-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-6.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-8-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9551\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-8-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-8-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-8-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-8-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-8-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-8.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-10-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9552\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-10-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-10-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-10-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Kenya-First-Lady-at-Kenya-State-House-during-the-launch-of-Educating-Linda-Program-10-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, 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I am happy to share that we have officially launched our Educating Linda Program to support girl education, in partnership with&nbsp;the First Lady of Kenya and Ambassador&nbsp;of&nbsp;\u201cMerck Foundation More Than a Mother\u201d, at the&nbsp;Kenya State [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9543,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9542","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-message"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Message from Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, marking a landmark moment in supporting girl education through the \u201cEducating Linda\u201d Program at Kenya State House | Rasha Kelej<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/?p=9542\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Message from Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, marking a landmark moment in supporting girl education through the \u201cEducating Linda\u201d Program at Kenya State House | Rasha Kelej\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO with Kenya First Lady at Kenya State House during the launch of Educating Linda Program. 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