Nura Kemis 
- BIC’s “Express Myself” Program Boosts Creativity for 16,000 Kenyan Students;
BIC, a global leader in stationery, has successfully concluded the fifth edition of its “Express Myself with My BIC Pen” program, reaching over 16,000 students across 50 schools in Western Kenya.
Focusing on creativity and innovation, the program aims to encourage students to express themselves using writing and drawing in regions including Nakuru, Kisumu, and Eldoret
Paloma Lengema, General Manager of BIC East Africa, said BIC believes that quality education extends beyond basic writing tools.
“It is also about nurturing creative expression and critical thinking skills.Express Myself with My BIC Pen embodies our commitment to empowering students with the confidence to articulate their thoughts and stories.
The enthusiasm we’ve witnessed from students and teachers has been truly inspiring, reinforcing our dedication to expanding this program further,” Lengema said.
The initiative trains teachers through dedicated workshops to leverage writing and drawing tools for self-expression.
The teachers work with students individually and in groups and help achieve the objectives through various methods and engaging students in competitions.
Veronica Maiywa, headteacher, Crater Comprehensive School, Nakuru, said that this comprehensive approach engages teachers and students alike, equipping teachers with the necessary tools to engage students year after year.
“Creative writing is a fundamental skill that helps students develop critical thinking and self-expression abilities that serve them throughout their academic journey and beyond,” Maiywa noted.
Maiywa further said that the program has transformed how teachers approach writing in general and has sparked remarkable creativity amongst students.
“We are pleased to work with companies such as BIC that are committed to the communities in which they operate and that bring novelty in the programs, that our students can benefit from,” she said.
The program, “Express Myself with My BIC Pen,” kicked off in 2020 under the slogan: “My Words, My Story, My BIC Pen.
Initially the program helped students perfect their handwriting as they transitioned from using graphite pencils to pens.
In 2024, the program expanded to reach a larger number of students across various education levels, and incorporate creativity in le-expression, through writing and drawing.
To date, the initiative has impacted over 60,000 students.
BIC is committed to improve learning conditions for 250 million students by the year 2025.
This stems from its sustainable development program Writing the Future Together.
