Regional cables and conductors manufacturer, East African Cables, has confirmed a long-term corporate commitment to help raise children’s wellbeing and empowerment through promotion of health, education, protection against violence.
To kick off the initiative, East African Cables has confirmed a sponsorship deal with SOS Children Villages in Buru Buru Nairobi at an initial cost of Kes 1.8 million, adopting a house that hosts 10 children ranging from ages from 3 to 14 further supporting them through education, provision of basic needs and mentorship programs.
SOS Children’s Villages which was founded in Austria in 1949, is the largest child welfare organization in the world. The organization provides quality long-term care for orphaned and vulnerable children through its Children’s Villages, SOS Schools, Family Strengthening Programs, Social and Medical Centers. In Kenya it is active in Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret, Meru, Kisumu and Marsabit benefitting over 10,000 children and youth with over 1,000 currently under its care.
According to East African Cables Group Executive Officer George Mwangi, the choice of SOS Children’s Villages is based on the centre’s commendable effort to rehabilitate different categories of abandoned and orphaned children, adding that the level of dedication shown by the centre towards children welfare was outstanding.
“To promote the wellbeing of abandoned and vulnerable children in our society and more so, work towards making significant strides in realising some of the key child-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Vision 2030, we must continue to make collective efforts to achieve a more sustainable, equitable progress towards these goals. We expect our sponsorship to SOS Children Villages will provide hope to these children and a call to action for all stakeholders to come together in enhancing their lives in our communities,†said Mr. Mwangi.
Mr. Mwangi noted that the abject neglect of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups of people in the society was alarming despite their being instrumental in national and global economic growth. He revealed that East African Cables is keen on collaborating with not-for-profit organisations and other stakeholders that are committed to capacity building for sustainable livelihoods.
He said that East African Cables believes all children deserve a quality education and a healthy start in life, a key influence in the company’s decision to focus on providing innovative models designed to improve education and access to vital health services to improve their lives in their adulthood.
Part of the in-kind deal of the sponsorship will involve a staff volunteering parental and guidance roles. The management team is committed to act as foster parents for the kids in their adopted house and will provide guidance and parental love.
Recent reports by UNICEF Kenya and Childcare Kenya, estimated that over 2.4 million orphans are in living in the country, 47 percent are orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS and many more remain vulnerable due to several other factors.
While speaking on the sponsorship, SOS Children’s Villages Kenya National Director Ruth Okowa said that the organization is honoured and delighted to partner with East African Cables in implementing this noble initiative.
She explained that taking care of vulnerable children, more notably the orphaned and the abandoned, is a societal and shared responsibility while appealing to corporates, individuals and philanthropists to step in playing a part to children’s wellbeing.