Corporate Social Responsibility

Stsudents out for sustainability Outreach

By Erick Diang’a                                                                                                                        

Children and students posing for a photo:
 PHOTO/ ERICK DIANG'A

ZETECH College students visited Kahawa West Christian children’s home to give donations and hope to young children.The centre is located few meters from Kahawa West estate in Kiambu District.

The home is owned by pastor Charles Njani, the founder and  director of the facility. He is assisted by four primary school teachers who have volunteered to aid the children in their studies.

"Construction of the home is ongoing though there is lack of funds to speed up the process. Hygiene at the school is poor following lack of reliable and adequate toilets'', the pastor said. Mr Njani added that children are susceptible to water borne diseases due to lack of water storage and treatment facilities in the school. The director informed the students that he has shouldered the burden by lobbying for funds from the government and non-governmental organizations but the amount is hardly enough to complete part of the construction.

The room that is currently used for learning purposes is too small to accommodate the pupils. The circumstances force some children to learn under the tree at a nearby church. Three of the children were in public high schools and had to pay school fees: a task that could not be handled solely by the director.

                                               

The college saw the need to contribute money and collect donations to the facility. Donations included clothes and stationery.  Part of the money was used to purchase food and beverages while the rest was delivered to school in cash.

Children had much fun playing and taking lunch together with students. The meal was prepared by students of hotel management who were equipped with cooking materials and chef wears. From the look of the children’s faces, hope was at least restored by the college's kind attitude.

Such services are vital more so when they are aimed at improving health and living standards of orphans in the country. Schools, organizations, religious bodies, institutions and the government should indulge in such initiatives to eliminate food crisis and poverty. This will also make the world a better place for

orphans and vulnerable sons and daughters. Children are the future leaders of the state that is why they deserve proper care, support and nurturing. Parents should be made aware of proper family care in relation to healthy living practices.

Noel ,left, a hotel management  student leading 
students and pupils in a play.
 

Children having a meal together
 in one of the classrooms

Students and children having  a group photo.

Environment

Eastleigh sewage hitch puts lives at risk

                 By Erick Diang'a

sewage bubbling above a manhole

Environmental conservation starts with an individual’s will in eradicating unhealthy practices like careless disposal of plastic bags and litters. The government of Kenya through the water ministry is majorly responsible for ensuring citizens a country free from mismanaged garbage, untreated water and burst sewer pipes.

Eastleigh estate residents fear that waterborne diseases might emerge due to poor sewage management. In the last one month, stinking sewage has been overflowing uncontrollably on the roads. The problem could be mistaken for the current rains hitting the city.

Despite the irritating flow and odor of the sewage, the government has done nothing to contain the issue- in fact, the Nairobi water and Sewerage Company collects its dues every end month. This issue questions the duty of water ministry to Kenyans who are ready to pay their bills to receive clean water.

In October 2012, residents complained of consuming water mixed with  the mess. Residents realized the mystery and acknowledged the rest. Several children were admitted in hospitals due to symptoms associated with waterborne illnesses.

Bursting of sewer pipes has been caused by vandalism. Unknown people illegally removed manhole lids exposing the mess to residential houses and roads. Since January, major manholes have been covered by kindhearted residents using rocks,an action that has only increased traffic snarl-up.

Eastleigh is one of the trade centers within Nairobi county that yield much revenue to the country.  Nevertheless, the center has not been given recognition by the government in terms of better roads and waste management.

The dilapidated road linking Pumwani Maternity Hospital and Mlango Kubwa estate has been the garbage dumping site. The presence of bubbling pool of sewage on this road hinders transportation of goods and people. In most cases, the condition forces public service vehicles from Nairobi town to deviate to Garissa lodge shopping center route.

Charity begins at home; let citizens take issues into their own hands by primarily practicing domestic hygiene. Before cleaning the streets, families should manage their own bins in their houses at the grassroots level. If all families can strive towards achieving this, Eastleigh will remain one of the cleanest estates one can talk of in Nairobi town. Above all, government should give a second eye to the estate before the condition transits into a disaster.                                              

A man pulling a Mkokoteni through a flooded sewage.
PHOTO/ERICK DIANG'A