UNICEF and Airtel Kenya have announced a partnership to promote children’s rights to education and a safe and secure childhood. The partnership will focus on protecting the most marginalized children from violence and abuse online and offline by increasing access to internet connectivity and digital learning in schools across Kenya. This is in addition to providing life-saving information to children and their families during emergencies such as droughts, floods and disease outbreaks, such as COVID-19.
Priority projects under the new partnership include the following.
1. The Last Mile connectivity project, which aims to increase use of digital literacy tools and connect schools to the internet, in order to provide quality digital learning for children, including those with disabilities.
2. A campaign on violence against children, Spot it, Stop it, which aims to raise public awareness of the different forms of violence, including how to recognize and report these.
3. Clear and timely information during humanitarian emergencies.
“I would like to thank Airtel for joining us on this partnership, which will transform children’s lives here in Kenya and help create change in communities across the country. We have already worked together to promote polio and other vaccination campaigns, which has undoubtedly saved children’s lives. Now we have a chance to protect children from violence and also extend digital learning to more children,” said UNICEF Representative Maniza Zaman.
On his part, Airtel Kenya CEO Prasanta Das Sarma said, “Together with UNICEF, we want to help children access the Internet, keep them safe online and boost their opportunities to learn. This partnership is a chance for us to leverage Airtel’s technology and reach in Kenya and build on our shared values – aligning our missions and strategies for social good.”