The I&M Bank Foundation and the Kenya Community Development Foundation (KCDF) signed a Ksh 50 million partnership deal for the conservation of the environment.
The partnership aims at introducing the culture and practice of environmental awareness and conservation amongst children and youths in 172 learning institutions including primary, secondary and vocational in four sub-counties in Narok and Kilifi counties.
The partnership will target water catchment communities and is expected to benefit over 5,000 households in the two counties.
“At the Foundation, we have identified the challenges undermining efforts in protecting and restoring natural and sustainable environments in the country. We realise and appreciate that sustainable environments play a critical role in achieving the country’s economic growth plans, therefore we have set up inclusive and measurable programmes and interventions to address these challenges.” Said Sarit Raja-Shah, Trustee, I&M Bank Foundation.
“The partnership with our able partners KCDF, that we are rolling out today, aimed at benefitting children and the youth in Narok and Kilifi counties, perfectly aligns with the Bank’s Foundation’s initiatives on environmental conservation; and I believe that this will help nurture a generation of passionate environmentalists for generations to come,” Mr Shah added
Kihara Maina, Trustee at the I&M Bank Foundation said that the bank would monitor the implementation of the programme to ensure its success comes to fruition.
“To ensure that the programme’s implementation runs seamlessly, the I&M Bank Foundation will provide resources to implement the program; the I&M Bank staff members will join the community and schools in scheduled events like tree-planting drives, national environment days, and county engagement forums; they will also volunteer expertise, skills and time in the capacity building of communities and schools in financial literacy,” he added.
“More important is the fact that the collaboration targets a critical segment of our population, i.e., children and youth who make over 70 per cent of our national population, and are a primary group going forward in ensuring environmental conservation is fully integrated as a way of life among generations to come,” said Ms Eunice Mathu, KCDF Chairperson.
The program aims at restoring the environment through tree planting, adoption of clean energy through the use of energy-saving Jikos, solar for lighting and sustainable waste management by investmenting in waste collection points and use of bio-gas, while nurturing a generation of future environmentalists.
Also Read: World Bank loan I&M Bank Rwanda $10 million to support SMEs
