By Shadrack Nyakoe
Majid Al Futtaim, which owns the exclusive rights to operate Carrefour in Kenya, has donated over KES 5.9 million towards three community development institutions championing education, digital learning, and social welfare.
The Roots Institute Centre in Mathare, Kangemi Resource Centre and Kenya Connect will receive KES 4 million, KES 1.2 million and KES 672 000 respectively.
These donations will have a significant impact on the lives of many Kenyans with the Roots Institute Centre expected to use the funds to construct a modern kitchen to provide meals for 700 pre-primary to junior secondary students who rely on the institution for free education. Meanwhile, Kangemi Resource Centre will expand its computer centre, enhancing e-learning and digital skills services for 12,700 children, 88 teachers, and 88 schools, while Kenya Connect will utilise the funds towards equipping their library with books and other learning resources, benefiting 18,000 students and 600 teachers across 63 partner public schools.
Christophe Orcet, Regional Director of East Africa at Majid Al Futtaim Retail, commented: “Carrefour is dedicated to creating meaningful impact through strategic partnerships that align with our vision of empowering communities and driving positive social change. Our contributions to these projects reflect our continued commitment to promoting sustainable development across key sectors in the country. We believe that our success is closely tied to the well-being of the communities we serve.”
To mark the occasion, a ceremony was held, attended by representatives from the three organisations, namely: Constance Fromont, Donor Representative of Roots Institute Centre; James Musyoka, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Kenya Connect; Faith Doucette, Director of Partnerships and Mentorships at Kenya Connect; and Esther Ndirangu, Program Manager at Kangemi Resource Centre.
Constance Fromont, Donor Representative of Roots Institute Centre, expressed her gratitude, highlighting the importance of facilitating access to education to the youth during the ceremony.
She stated: “We are grateful for the timely donation especially since we currently do not have an optimal kitchen as the previous one was demolished. This will not only enable us to prepare meals for our students efficiently, but also ensure that their studies will continue uninterrupted.”
Beyond these direct donations, Carrefour also contributed KES 750,000 to sponsor the 21st Standard Chartered Marathon. The proceeds from this event will benefit ‘Future Makers’, an initiative that tackles social and economic inequality by empowering disadvantaged youth, women and people with disabilies to learn, earn, and grow.
This sponsorship further reinforces the retailer’s dedication to creating a more equitable society.