NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 8 – Twenty five Kenyan youth are set to benefit from an Africa Airlift Program to the United States following a partnership between Coca-Cola East and Central Africa and the Zawadi Africa Education Fund, a philanthropic initiative of Dr Susan Mboya.
Coca-Cola East and Central Africa, through its Coca-Cola Africa Foundation has donated Sh8 million which will go towards the award of scholarships, to paying for air tickets, books, pocket money and incidentals for the students.
In addition, the funds will also go towards broader program elements that will benefit multiple students, such as expansion of the program into new countries and development of counselling facilities for the students, as well as books and computers.
Speaking at a press conference to announce the partnership, William Asiko, the President of The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation said that the programme would contribute to laying strong foundations for the continents’ long-term social and economic growth.
“Coca-Cola believes that sponsorship of education programmes is one of the pillars that underpin our company’s contribution to the timely attainment of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals,” he said.
Mr Asiko further noted that the Zawadi Africa Education Fund would see the emergence of talent and leadership that will inspire and motivate many young girls and women to achieve the best in life.
“The objective of the Coca-Cola Africa Foundation education programs is to empower young people with knowledge and skills that unleash their full potential and contribution to the welfare of their families and communities,” he explained.
The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation is the charitable arm of The Coca-Cola Company in Africa. Since its creation in 2001, the Foundation has invested in critical priority areas and piloted a number of community partnerships to address community-driven social issues in the areas of Water and Sanitation, Entrepreneurship, Education and Health.
To date, The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation has contributed over Sh2.3 billion since 2007 to 13 international NGO partners to implement Coca-Cola’s strategic community programs in 5 key areas of social need in more than 30 countries on the continent.
Since 2007, The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation has set aside a total of over Sh962.5million in cash and other support in kind to implement pan-African education projects all over Africa, over a five-year period to 2011 in partnership other NGOs including Safaricom and Google East Africa.
