The KenGen Foundation joined other East Africa philanthropic organization from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda in calling for stronger collaborations and partnerships during the 5th East Africa Philanthropy Conference held at Crowne Plaza, Nairobi from 15 to 16 November.
During his opening speech, industrialist – philanthropist, and Chairman of the Chandaria Foundation, Dr. Manu Chandaria emphasized that “to bring change, we have to bring together like-minded people, and start small”, reflecting this year’s theme aptly titled “Philanthropy Collaborations; Pulling Together for Better”.
Dr. Manu Chandaria during the opening ceremony of the 5th East Africa Philanthropy Conference held at Crowne Plaza, Nairobi.
Outgoing East Africa Association of Grant makers Chairman, and KenGen Foundation Managing Trustee Mike Njeru recognized the efforts of EAAG towards achieving its role of shaping the philanthropy agenda in the region, which includes bringing together both physical and virtual key players of the industry.
READ MORE: Engaging Employees in Philanthropy by Corporate Foundations
“The EAAG enables all of us to savour in the magic that comes from the meeting of like-minded organizations – great inspiration and synergies, which propel the impetus of collaborations”, he said
“This forum will undoubtedly enable us to appreciate conceptual frameworks for collaboration in philanthropy, and how these can influence both collective and individual organizations in achieving their goals”, he added.
KenGen Foundation’s Managing Trustee and outgoing EAAG Chairman Mike Njeru addresses the participants during the regional philanthropy conference.
This year’s conference provided a myriad of new, practical case studies and ideas geared towards enhanced philanthropy collaboration at the national, regional and global level, with the highlight being the launch of the Guidelines for Effective Philanthropic Engagement.
The conference was a valuable learning and exchange platform with a particular focus on ways foundations can derive optimum value from philanthropic partnerships and collaborations.
KenGen Foundation’s Snr. Fundraising Officer during the event.
The KenGen Foundation is part of the East Africa Association of Grant makers network, a voluntary membership Association that brings together Trusts and Foundations in the East Africa region with the aim of promoting philanthropy.
READ MORE: Mike Njeru Elected as Chairman of the East Africa Association of Grant makers
Membership is drawn from Family Trusts, Community Foundations, Corporate Foundations, and other types of grant making and non-grant making organizations interested in promoting philanthropy in the region.
The Foundation continues to seek such opportunities for engagement that will help in achieving our mandate of touching lives and enabling communities through strategic partnerships.
Follow us on Twitter through @KenGen_Foundatn and like our Facebook page for more updates.
–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer
]]>The KenGen Foundation wrapped up the Employee Giver Initiative recruitment exercise at Olkaria by registering 135 new Givers from the power stations from 2 to 5 October. This raised the number of the area Givers to 284.
The Foundation team was warmly welcomed at Geothermal Plaza, the power stations and the rigs as Olkaria staff enthusiastically inquired about the Company’s Corporate Social Investment activities while subscribing to the Initiative.
And in a befitting appreciation ceremony, the area Givers were treated to a cocktail at the Geothermal Plaza where they had a chance to meet and mingle with the chief guests, Mike Njeru, the Foundation’s Managing Trustee, Abraham Serem, KenGen’s Human Resources Director, and Eng. Peter Ouma acting on behalf of Geothermal Development Director, Eng. Abel Rotich.
HR Director Abraham Serem addressing the Olkaria Givers.
Addressing the Givers, Mr. Serem praised those who made the choice to become new subscribers to the initiative in the area. He also thanked the Foundation for starting the initiative, which is currently supporting scholarships for eight students in secondary school.
READ MORE: Giver Numbers Hit 1,200 As 28 Eastern Hydros Staff Sign Up
Mike Njeru welcomed the new Givers and thanked them for their selflessness in committing their resources to transforming the lives of the less fortunate in the society.
Foundation’s Managing Trustee Mike Njeru during the event.
“I’m more than humbled by the numbers of those who have subscribed to the initiative in Olkaria in the last few days’, Mike said in his keynote speech.
“Olkaria has so far seen the highest number of subscribers this year, and I encouraged the Givers to recruit their counterparts who are yet to sign up”, he added.
READ MORE: Giver Initiative Welcomes Upper Tana Champions
In a tight nomination to select the area Giver Champions, Frankline Omumamu was elected to represent Olkaria’s Drilling and Logistics, with David Odek designated to take lead at the Power Stations and Wellheads. Kimani Kangethe and Joyce Wambua were unanimously elected as the Champions for Olkaria’s Geothermal Plaza, Science Labs & Geothermal Club.
The Foundation’s Managing Trustee Mike Njeru and Snr. Fundraising Oocicer Cathy Kwena pose with Olkaria Giver champions.
The new Champions join their counterparts from other KenGen power stations to guide in the coordination and implementation of the area’s CSI activities, while acting as a bridge between the Givers and the Foundation.
Acapella group Ninga Melodies brought the house down with an electrifying performance as the Givers danced to Kenya’s popular song renditions, marking the end of the 2017 Employee Giver Initiative areas recruitment and appreciation exercise
The Employee Giver Initiative is a unique program for KenGen staff to be directly involved in the company’s CSI activities. Subscribers contribute through monetary donations ortheir time and skills towards the Foundation’s three pillars of sustainability namely Education, Environment, Water and Sanitation.
KenGen staff wishing to join the Giver Initiative can contact the Foundation’s Administration Officer Lydia Mbaka through [email protected] or through extension 6709. They can also see their local champions for guidance.
See how the cocktail went down below…
Follow us on Twitter through @KenGen_Foundatn and like our Facebook page for more updates.
–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer
]]>The KenGen Employee Giver Initiative subscriptions now stand at 1,200 members after the Foundation team concluded a 2-day recruitment and appreciation exercise at Eastern Hydros from 13 – 14 September.
Eastern Hydros Operation’s Manager Eng. Francis Kawa addresses the area Givers.
The Foundation team was well received at the 7-Forks stations of Masinga, Kamburu, Gitaru, Kindaruma, and Kiambere with staff eager to learn more about how they could be part of KenGen’s Corporate Social Investment activities.
READ MORE: Giver Initiative Welcomes Upper Tana Champions
Gitaru power station had the highest number of new subscribers with 28 staff signing up, followed by Kamburu with 13, Kindaruma – 10, Kiambere – 8, and Masinga – 3.
The Foundation’s Snr. Fundraising Officer Catherine Kwena with the Managing Trustee Mike Njeru during the event.
Eastern Hydros Operations Manager Eng. Francis Kawa, himself an ardent Giver in his own right, was humbled by the dedication shown by the area Givers and encouraged them to sign up their colleagues who are yet to subscribe to the initiative.
READ MORE: New Givers Sign Up at the 5th G2G Innovation Seminar
During an evening cocktail held in appreciation of all Eastern Hydros Givers, the Foundation’s Managing Trustee Mike Njeru congratulated all subscribers for their efforts and commitment to the initiative.
“It is through your contributions that we as a company can continue touching lives as we expand our social programs”, said Mike Njeru.
“Collectively, we are now in a better position to support extra students under the education pillar, and also scale up the company’s environmental conservation projects”, he added.
During the appreciation ceremony, where the famous acapela group Ninga Melodies gave an electrifying performance, Omar Abdi and Nathan Ngumi were elected as Gitaru champions, while Keneth Otieno and Henry Muithya will represent Kamburu and Kindaruma power stations respectively.
Nancy Chepkosgei was nominated as Kiambere power station champion, and Patrick Ndirangu will represent Masinga.
Congratulation champions, and welcome!
Follow us on Twitter through @KenGen_Foundatn and like our Facebook page for more updates.
–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer
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Florence “Flo” Mwele receives her certificate from Eng. Francis Kawa
The KenGen Foundation is humbled by the growth in the number of KenGen staff subscribing to the Giver Initiative after the month long Award and Appreciation Ceremonies held across all the power plants.
The ceremonies, aimed at recognizing all the Givers’ efforts in supporting the Foundation’s activities, concluded at 7-Forks and Upper Tana areas concurrently.
Addressing all the Givers at 7-Forks power stations, Engineer Francis Kawa, who was the guest of honour said, “The dedication of the Givers at Lower Tana, especially in the Annual Mentorship program, is invaluable and cannot be equated financially.
I would like to encourage all those who haven’t subscribed, to do so as it is through such initiatives that we can showcase our strength in numbers adding value to communities”, he added.
Click here to view the Photo Gallery of the Giver award ceremonies.
The turn out at Upper Tana power station was equally impressive. The guest of honour, Engineer Lawrence Mwagodi requested the Givers become “ambassadors for the Giver Initiative and help in raising the number of new subscriptions”.
The Foundation wishes to thank all those who have signed up, and is urging those interested in making a difference to sign up through their area’s HR office.
–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communications Officer
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The KenGen Foundation’s Giver Initiative team recorded 17 new subscribers from Olkaria during Award and Appreciation ceremony held at Olkaria on September 24 setting a subscription record across all KenGen areas.
During the ceremony held at the housing social hall and officiated by Foundation officials, with Engineer Gerald Ngatia as chief guest, 59 subscribers were awarded certificates and other tokens of appreciation.
“I encourage all Givers at Olkaria to go out and be ambassadors of the initiative”, said Eng. Ngatia during his opening speech at the awards ceremony. “It is only when we join hands that we can make a difference to the communities living around our power installations”, he added.
Click here to view the Photo Gallery of the Giver award ceremonies.
“The KenGen Foundation is impressed with Olkaria’s current performance as the top monetary Giver subscribers across all KenGen operational areas”, said Cathy Kwena, the Foundation’s Senior Fundraising Officer who led the team comprising of Ernest Nyamasyo, the Communications Officer, and Dorcas Arama, the Accounts Officer. “We were humbled by the number of requests from one-off Givers changing their subscriptions to monthly contributions; and others increasing their donation amounts”, she added.
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From Kipevu to Sondu Miriu, the KenGen Foundation teams were well received by the Givers at the power stations during the second week of the Employee Giver Appreciation and Awarding ceremonies slated for all areas.
Thirty nine Givers at Kipevu Power Plant were awarded certificates and other tokens of appreciation by the Foundation’s team comprising of Anthony Igecha, the Program’s Manager, and Dorcas Mokeira, the Accounts Officer. The team also registered five new Givers during the ceremony held on September 15.
Click here to view the Photo Gallery of the Giver award ceremonies.
“The turn out was impressive, and the enthusiasm displayed by the Givers at Kipevu should be replicated at other KenGen power installations”, said Anthony. “The new subscribers are really excited to be part of the Giver Initiative, and shared interesting ideas on how to implement the Corporate Social Investment (CSI) activities, some of which will be included in our planning”, he added.
The Foundation’s team that visited Sondu Miriu for the ceremony on September 17 was received by extremely cheerful Givers from the area. The team, led by The Managing Trustee Mr. Mike Njeru had an exciting time during the awarding ceremony which was attended by most of the Giver Initiative subscribers from the area.
“We are grateful for your participation in the Giver Initiative, and welcome the new subscribers to the program”, said Mike Njeru during his keynote speech at the power plant’s social hall. He noted that some of the Givers from the area were already involved in the Foundation’s activities as mentors under the Education pillar while the rest would soon be involved in other CSI activities under the Environment, and Water and Sanitation Pillars. He encouraged the new Givers to take up active rolls once various programs are rolled out.
Five new subscribers to the Giver Initiative were also registered.
The Foundation expresses sincere appreciation to all those who attended the ceremonies and the new Givers who joined up during the tours.
The Foundation teams are holding similar ceremonies at 7-Forks, Upper Tana and Olkaria over the next 2 weeks.
To subscribe to the Giver Initiative, click here (KenGen Employees only)
–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communications Officer
]]>The KenGen Foundation celebrated the commitment of all Nairobi Central Office Giver employees in a colourful ceremony held at KenGen’s RBS Silo Parking Building Nairobi on Thursday 10th.
The guest of honour Mr. Alfred Aseko, a trustee of the Foundation, and Mr. Mike Njeru, the Managing Trustee, presented more than 80 employees with Giver certificates and badges under the KenGen Giver Initiative.
Speaking during the award ceremony, Mr. Aseko thanked the subscribers for signing up to the initiative and encouraged them in participating in the Company’s Corporate Social Investment activities.
“The Giver Initiative is an important component in the Company’s Corporate Social Investment activities. Subscribers should be proud to be involved with the Foundation’s activities as a way of giving back to society”, said Mr. Aseko, who is also KenGen’s Chief Legal Officer.
Mr. Mike Njeru, the Foundation’s Managing Trustee, urged the Givers to encourage their colleagues who haven’t signed up to subscribe, as the Foundation’s team will be unveiling several CSI activities in the coming weeks.
]]>The KenGen Foundation has commenced the awarding of Giver Initiative certificates and tokens of appreciation to all employees who have registered for the initiative. The event in all areas companywide will comprise of a mid morning snack, a networking of all Givers and the presentation the certificates and tokens.
“We value and appreciate all the employees who signed up to the Giver Initiative,” says Mike Njeru, the KenGen Foundation Managing Trustee. “Already, we have engaged 18 of the Givers as mentors under our Education pillar and we are planning to involve the rest in other Corporate Social Investment activities including environmental conservation, water and sanitation”.
Over the course of the next three weeks, KenGen Foundation teams will visit all KenGen power installation areas for the brief but crucial ceremony.
The KenGen’s Employee Giver Initiative is a KenGen Foundation’s program aimed at involving the company’s staff in Corporate Social Responsibility activities in education, environmental conservation, and water and sanitation projects.
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