Since 2003, Safaricom Foundation has continued to partner with Kenyan communities, organizations and institutions in order to improve and transform lives.
With a keen interest in the development of the community, the Safaricom Foundation has worked with Speed, Simplicity and Trust to implement over 1,000 community projects, impacting over 3 million people, through our thematic areas of Health, Education, Environmental Conservation, Economic Empowerment, Water, Disaster Relief, and Arts & Culture.
Last week, various schools and health centers around Rift Valley were among the latest recipients of different facilities valued at over Ksh 28 million from the Safaricom Foundation.
Thousands of people including over 1,600 pupils from different schools were amongst the beneficiaries as the team traversed the region handing over the much needed amenities to two medical facilities and seven schools.
Samburu Girls Foundation headed by Josephine Kulea, received four classrooms valued at Ksh 5.9 million which will be used by the form 1 students in 2018 in the recently established secondary school.
This institution rescues Samburu girls from oppressive traditional practices like early marriages and Female Genital Mutilation. The classrooms were officially opened by the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs Sicily Kariuki as part of the celebrations to mark the International Day of the Girl Child
“Health and education remain our key areas of focus as a foundation and that is why it is part of our strategic direction. By focusing on these two sectors, we will ensure that we positively impact the lives of many Kenyans especially those in marginalized regions through increasing access to equitable and innovative educational opportunities and improving the health status of Kenyans”, said Joseph Ogutu, Chairman, Safaricom Foundation.
The projects by Safaricom further tie in with the Sustainable Development Goals, a set of targets that aim at ending poverty by 2030. Goal 3 calls for good health and wellbeing while the fourth goal aims at providing quality education.
Other institutions that benefited from the handovers include Ewang’ang E- Suswa Community Health Clinic in Narok County, where the Foundation funded the construction of a maternity wing valued at Ksh 6.4 million and West Maternity Centre, Eldoret where the maternity wing was refurbished at a cost of Ksh 1.7 million.
Schools that received amenities are St Augustine Chepkopegh Secondary School in Pokot County, which now has a fully equipped science laboratory valued at Ksh 6.3 million, St Francis School for the Blind in Kapenguria which now has new ICT software and furniture worth Kshs 3.4 million, Tugen Estate Secondary School in Uasin Gishu County and Simotwo Primary School in Elgeyo Marakwet who received a library at a cost of Ksh 1 million each.
Makutano Primary School on Eldoret- Kitale Road and Kola Primary School in Pokot County also received furnished classrooms worth Ksh 1.9 million.
“We thank the communities for their collaboration and ensuring that our partnership benefits the greater community. Good education and health are the very basis needed for a developing economy.” said Mr Ogutu.
The Foundation has invested over Ksh 500 million towards improved infrastructural and sanitation facilities reaching over 1.2 million learners in Primary, Secondary and vocational training institutions across the country.
On health, over half a billion shillings has been injected towards the improvement of health for Kenyans. Through meaningful partnerships, the foundation aims at achieving improved health and survival for mothers and infants during childbirth and early childhood.
