Nairobi, Kenya: Real Hope Community Youth Organization (RHYCO) in response to Covid-19 intervention has been supporting vulnerable families in Kawangware and Kibera slums in Nairobi Kenya with foodstuff, distribution of clean drinking water, re-usable mask and dignity packs in the targeted informal settlements since June 2020.
The project is implemented in partnership with United Way Worldwide grant on behalf of the generosity of 3M which will cover 6 (sub-location) in Kawangware and Kibera slums, namely, Gatina, Kabiro, Riruta, Kawangware Sarangombe and Lindi sub-locations. The interventions target vulnerable households with orphans and vulnerable children, elderly persons with chronic illness and people living with severe disabilities highly affected by the effects of Covid-19.
Dubbed ‘okoa mtaa’ Swahili for save my hood, RHYCO intends to reach out to about 10,000 families in their support network. The project will run until December 2020.
“We are glad as RHYCO, we are able to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable families in Nairobi’s urban slums by giving hope during this hard times,” States Martha Mwende, CEO RHYCO.
“So far we have supported 600 families with food packages, 3000 with face masks, 500 girls with sanitary towels and over 3000 households with clean water.”
Science-based Technology Company 3M has joined with not-for-profit organisation United Way Worldwide (UWW) to support relief projects across Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) that are helping the most vulnerable people in society impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.
Kenya is one of twelve countries across EMEA receiving a share of a 3M grant totalling $1,875,000, which is being directed to projects supporting nutrition, mental and physical health, education and COVID-19 awareness, according to the most pressing local needs and country status of the pandemic.
United Way Worldwide , is working with 3M Kenya to implement two grants in Kenya: the first grant of USD 60,038 will support the 430 most vulnerable families by procuring food supplies pegged with a public awareness campaign on the proper usage of face masks and sanitizers. The second grant of USD 59,986 will focus on improving the health and safety of community members living in the informal settlement areas amidst the pandemic. This includes face masks’ production & distribution, psychosocial support to address mental health challenges, rent support, provision of clean water and sanitary towels support to adolescent girls.
“It’s important that 3M holds true to its core values during this pandemic by supporting our communities and improving lives” said Robert Nichols, Managing Director of 3M Middle East Africa. “The projects with United Way form part of a $20 million commitment made by 3M at a corporate level to support COVID-19 relief projects globally, and we’re grateful that some of this funding is helping vulnerable communities in Kenya to receive support during these exceptional times”.
“We’re pleased to see how 3M is stepping up in helping the people in the Kenyan communities by channelling support to the most vulnerable who have been impacted by the pandemic,” Janet Butler, Vice President, Africa Region. “Together, we can make a real difference to people’s quality of life as we navigate through the coronavirus pandemic”.
