Corporate social responsibility
This therefore forms the foundation and feeds the passion we have for social activities and initiatives that employees are able to give back to the community.
We are involved in three areas around the community:
Health
Living in a society where AIDS and HIV issues have become an everyday part of life, Unilever East Africa takes great interest in the health of its staff and surrounding society. We have developed a framework that forms the foundation for our HIV /AIDS program, showing the commitment we have for our employees and the surrounding communities. We are a member of the Kenya HIV Private Business Sector Council, whereby firms across the country partner together and fund HIV/AIDS activities in their surrounding communities. Unilever has been involved in many HIV/AIDS initiatives, these include Neighbors Against AIDS which is a campaign that mobilized neighboring companies to jointly develop strategies on how to fight this epidemic in both the work place and the communities. Through greater involvement of people living with AIDS (GIPA) we have run, planned and well managed initiatives such as well managed support groups, taking stigma, awareness and education campaign as well as VCT. The business also provides Anti Retroviral Therapy to any of our staff members who require treatment.
Unilever Kenya Limited Launched a hand wash campaign in Githunguri. This campaign is in partnership with Kijabe Mission Hospital. This nitiative is targeted to homes that have HIV positive children with a view of entrenching a habit of hand washing. Unilever Kenya Limited has committed a year's supply of soap to 150 families who form the Kijabe Hospital AIDS relief programme. Unilever is committed and accountable for the difference we make onn a daily basis to our consumeres, employees, the communities and the environment in which we operate. Giving back to the community is core to the heart of business.
Our staff also spend time showing support, both material and psychological in HIV/AIDS care homes such as KENWA (Kenya Network of Women Living with AIDS).
Environment
To mark the millennium year 2000, Unilever Tea Kenya launched “Trees 2000” to increase the number of indigenous trees, which would otherwise be dwindling in number, due to widespread deforestation. The projects aim which is still active, is to plant 40,000 indigenous trees every year.
To help meet this goal, each of the 20,000 employees are given the objective of planting two trees each, every year. Employees have taken part enthusiastically.
As well as the “internal company focus”, young indigenous trees have also been donated to schools, learning institutions such as Egerton University and other organizations.
In recognition of Unilever’s efforts, which includes donation of 40,000 trees to the institution, Egerton University has marked out 200 acres for the company to establish a Botanical garden.
Environmental Conservation:
In the year 2003, Unilever partnered with WWF, to stop degradation of natural resources and to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature.
Unilever Tea Kenya has formed an alliance with Friends of Mau Watershed (FOMAWA), which also does work with the WWF, to help restore the Mau forest, which boarders the Kericho estate. The Mau forest is one of the five main water catchments areas and bio diversity centers in Kenya, which provides benefits to over 30 million Kenyans. It is also crucial to the health of the Tea Business.
Together with UNEP, Unilever Kenya is championing the rehabilitation of the Nairobi River. We are also involved in recycling of plastics to make poles for fencing the Aberdare forest.
Education
We all have heard the statement “Knowledge is power“, and it’s only through education can we grow as a nation, and a region. We believe in the education of young people in the society, and hence sponsor students of high achievement.
Institute of Higher Learning Award Scheme
We have for the past decade recognized the best students in various categories graduating from local higher learning institutions. We therefore support a number of students in the academia that falls in line with our deep-rooted social responsibility.
Bursaries
Unilever Tea Kenya Ltd. interests offers bursaries for education of its employees children. The TOB Braiter bursaries support university education for gifted children of unionisable employees. Similar Unilever University scholarships are available to talented students of neighboring community.Unilever Tea Kenya Limited also fully sponsors 2 financially challenged students from Kericho, Bureti and Bomet District every year and fully caters for their university fees to completion of the programmes undertaken.
Unilever Kenya Limited Launched the Unilever Scholarship Scheme on 7th April 2006. The beneficiaries are students who demonstrate exemplary high academic score but are financially challenged and that is why we chose to support from Starehe Boys Centre and Alliance Girls High School. Speaking during the launch of the scheme Unilever Kenya's Managing Director Mr. David Mureithi said that the aim of the event was to
- Demonstrate Unilever's commitment to it's Vitality Mission Values- making people feel good, look good and get more out of life.
- Partner with the government which has a summountable burden in accessing education for all.
- Tap the potential of these bright children.
Unilever is committed to making a positive contribution to society, through the brands we produce and sell through our commercial operations and relationships, and through our engagement to the wider society.
