March 3, 2022 - Stemming from its commitment to improve learning conditions for 250 million children by 2025, BIC has partnered with Save the Children, the world's first and leading independent children’s organization, to distribute school supplies to more than 400,000 underprivileged students in Kenya.
An event was held at Save the Children headquarters in Nairobi, during which BIC representatives from East Africa donated school supplies with the goal of helping students in need across the country. One of Kenya’s major educational challenges is a lack of school supplies and general resources necessary for students' to be able to learn and participate in classroom activities.
During the event, Marketing Manager Paloma Lengema of BIC East Africa stated, “Education is one of our key areas of focus at BIC. We are committed to supporting communities that we operate in and are especially focused on improving learning conditions for students in need.
The lack of resources in the education sector which affects pupils’ ability to learn and express themselves has pushed us to partner with renowned and like-minded institutions like Save the Children to work together to shed light on this crucial pillar in society, as well as aim towards closing the gap in the unavailability of school materials.”
Save the Children’s Kenya and Madagascar Country Director, Yvonne Arunga, noted that education is one of the organization’s key pillars necessary to help children build the foundation for success.
“Save the Children believes that every child should receive quality education.
We are aware that millions of children are robbed of this basic need because of the environments they grow up in. Children are less likely to escape the cycle of poverty and may never have the opportunity to achieve their full potential,” said Yvonne. “We are delighted to partner with private sector companies such as BIC who are committed to supporting and elevating learning conditions for students in need and helping children across Kenya access the material they need for quality education.”
Throughout the years, BIC has worked to support and empower students by providing the right tools for them to express themselves and reach their full potential. Today’s partnership with Save the Children is also aligned with the ongoing initiative, ‘Buy a Pen, Donate a Pen’, a program launched in East Africa in 2019, for which BIC has committed to donating one pen for every product it sells.
The donation took place in February 2022, ahead of the commencement of the Kenya Certificate of Primary and Secondary Education exams. The donation will not only provide students with the materials they need for quality education, but it will also help the teachers who often spend their own money to buy school supplies for the classroom. The donations will specifically support students across the country in Nairobi, Garissa, Wajir, Daadab, Turukana, Bungoma, and Mandera.