Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) has partnered with Start a Library Trust to set up libraries for public schools in Kenya.
Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), KAM and Start a Library Trust seek to promote inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities, through fostering a reading culture and lifelong learning among Kenyan children.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, KAM CEO, Mr Anthony Mwangi, appreciated the role of Kenya’s manufacturing sector in the country’s economic development, transforming communities and empowering societies.
“Local industry continues to support the communities in which they operate by providing social amenities, directly or through partnerships with government. For instance, rehabilitating roads, supporting education and health systems by building schools and medical centres and providing clean water, among many other initiatives. By partnering with Start a Library Trust, we shall drive the realization of SDG 4 on inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities. Additionally, we shall build an inclusive world and ultimately achieve socio-economic goals by embracing diversity, explained Mr Mwangi.
Start a Library Trust Executive Director, Ms Evelyne Mwandia- Executive Director, highlighted the importance of an educated population.
“Reading kick-starts children with the right literacy skills they need in their lifelong learning journey. By establishing libraries with age-appropriate reading materials and motivating them to read, we are equipping them with the language skills they need to excel academically, promoting equality and inclusivity in our economy. We remain committed to continuously equipping school-going children with appropriate literacy and life skills to enable them to fit in the competitive global village,” said Ms Mwandia.
The MoU is an initiative of uKAMilifu, KAM’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) arm. It houses KAM’s social impact efforts and initiatives, that bolster its mandate as the credible voice of the industry.