Airtel Kenya Illuminates Schools in Machakos County

Many companies undertake CSR activities every once in a while for the community,this ensures that the company not only maintains good rapport with the community but also gives back to its consumers or clients for their support by contributing or donating items. Such a company that did that recently is  Bharti Airtel which donated 40 solar lamps to Tala SA primary school and St Mary's Tala primary school in Machakos County.The solar-powered lamps will give over 1,200 students from the two schools the freedom to extend their study hours, allowing them to revise and complete their coursework.This will enable them to succeed in their education.

The solar lamps are also a vast improvement on the poor light from candles and kerosene lamps, that may cause long-term eye strain; a significant health effect to the children.Airtel Kenya CEO Adil El Youssefi said that giving the students access to solar lamps will increase their investment in their own education, further the community's economic development and contribute to environmental protection.

"Lack of adequate lighting critically undermines children's ability to study in the evening and consequently constrains their performance in the classrooms. We believe that the solar-powered lamps will now allow the students to study and for teachers to prepare during the hours of darkness. This will greatly contribute to the academic performance of the students and improved grades for the school," added El Youssefi.

Today, approximately 800 million people in the world lack access to reliable lighting.A recent survey titled "Exploring Kenya's Inequality" by Society for International Development (SID) and Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) indicates that nearly 70 per cent of Kenyans rely on kerosene tin lamps as a mode of lighting.Also in most parts of the country, many students rely on kerosene lit lanterns as their main source of lighting at night, which constrains their study through dimness, indoor air pollution, fire risks, and high marginal cost of usage.

Airtel Kenya continues to support education in the country through its ongoing free Internet for schools project that seeks to improve the quality of learning in institutions through access to learning materials on the Internet.

The company has so far connected over 60 schools across the country, allowing teachers and students 24 hours access to access learning material and unlimited amount of information from the internet.

 

Rererence :allafrica.com