I&M Bank Foundation partners with Shamas Rugby Foundation on Life Skills Education for Children
Press Release
I&M Bank Foundation partners with Shamas Rugby Foundation on Life Skills Education for Children
Nairobi, 8th February 2020: I&M Bank Foundation and Shamas Rugby
Foundation have partnered to spearhead initiatives on life skills education for
underprivileged children living in informal settlements.
The partnership dubbed the ‘Take Control programme’ seeks to target over
5,000 children (ages 10 to 15) in Kibera, Mathare, Kangemi, Eastlands,
Korogocho and Ruiru.
The Take Control programme, funded by a Kshs 17 million grant from I&M Bank Foundation, will be implemented through training camps, seminars and
workshops that will run for a period of 3 years. In addition, I&M Bank staff
members will provide mentorship programmes for the youth benefitting from the Take Control initiative.
Shamas Rugby Foundation uses Rugby to promote the holistic development of
underprivileged children and youth in urban slums and rural areas in Kenya,
through life skills, education and employability programs.
Commenting on the partnership, Sarit Raja Shah, Trustee, I&M Bank Foundation noted, “At the Foundation, through the Education and Skills Development pillar, we have identified initiatives aimed at enhancing quality education and skills development amongst financially constrained youth.”
“Education access and skills development as outlined in the UN’s SDG 4, looks to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education, as well as promote life-long learning opportunities for all. We are therefore happy to partner with Shamas Rugby Foundation today, to roll out the Take Control Programme, as this will help mould our youth to be agents of change in our country’s socio-economic development agenda.” he added.
Key initiatives that I&M Bank Foundation has focused on in promoting quality
education for the vulnerable in society include: education scholarships for bright but needy students, education infrastructure developments and refurbishments and life skills development initiatives.
The Founder, Shamas Rugby Foundation, Mr. Azim Deen, noted that “The
support we will receive from I&M Bank Foundation will have a tremendous
impact on the girls and boys involved in Take Control as they go through their
school life and teenage years.”
“The holistic approach of this programme will allow many to blossom into
confident adults who are able to make informed decisions about critical areas in their life and thrive in society.”
Speaking at the partnership’s launch, Kihara Maina, Trustee at I&M Bank
Foundation, noted, “The partnership with Shamas Rugby Foundation perfectly
aligns with our mandate in education and skills development. I believe by
empowering our youth through life skills development, we are able to build
character, resilience, learning and strong value systems, which will in turn help them to better understand themselves and interact with others and make better life decisions.”
“To ensure that the programme’s implementation runs seamlessly, I&M Bank
Foundation will provide resources to implement the programme and will closely monitor its progress to ensure that the investment brings value to our partners.” he concluded.
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Notes to the editor
About I&M Bank Foundation
The I&M Bank Foundation spearheads the Shared Value Agenda for I&M Bank to deliver positive impact to society and is charged with the responsibility of
delivering social investment programs. The Foundation focuses on key strategic thematic areas namely: Environmental conservation, where we preserve, protect, and restore the environment and promote sustainable use of ecosystems; Education and skills development, where we enhance education outcomes that ensures inclusive and equitable quality education, self-reliance, and gainful livelihoods for Kenyans; Economic empowerment, where we promote sustainable economic growth, productive employment, and decent work for Micro, Small and Medium enterprises (MSMEs); and Enabling giving, where we strengthen partnerships for sustainable community development.
For further information, contact:
Suprio Sen Gupta
GM, Products and Marketing Head,
[email protected]
+ 254 719088205
James Gatere
Head I&M Bank Foundation
[email protected]
+ 254 719088866
About Shamas Rugby Foundation
Shamas Rugby Foundation (SRF) is a sport for development organization that
uses rugby to promote the holistic development of underprivileged children and youth in Kenya. SRFs' programs focus on life skills, education, employability, and community engagement. In doing so, SRF supports the attainment of child rights, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Today, SRF works with over 1'500 boys and girls (ages 6-18) living in the informal settlements of Kibera, Mathare, Eastlands, Kangemi, Korogocho, and Ruiru area.
