Corporate Social Responsibility

Kenya has a population of almost 40 million people, approximately 34 million (85%) of whom do not have electricity.It is estimated that Kenyans spend 20-30% of their annual income on kerosene, their main lighting source.

To address this issue, we will be piloting a project with Kopernik in which 24 young Kenyan girls between the ages of 17 and 19 will be trained to manage their own d.light micro franchise business—providing them with the opportunity to increase their income, money management skills and their own sense of security.

By making high quality solar powered lighting solutions available to the urban slums of Nairobi, we estimate that these girl micro-franchisees will be able to sell 6,961 lights over 12 months, which will benefit a total of 34,805 people.

From our perspective, we expect this program to be fully sustainable within 18 months of launch, but we need the initial funding to kick start it. We hope you will join Kopernik’s supporters and many others in providing opportunity for these girl micro-franchisees to create a positive change for themselves and their community.

Sollatek Kenya has decided to make its support for the Likoni School for the Blind the company’s corporate social responsibility project for this year. The school is the only learning institution at the Coast which caters for blind children as well as those with impaired vision. During a visit to the school’s premises, the company’s top management was moved by the difficult circumstances under which the institution’s administration operates to provide this crucial service to the disabled children in our society.

We have had a number of meetings with the school’s head teacher and representatives of its primary donor, the Salvation Army, with a view to identifying the immediate areas of operation of the institution where Sollatek can make a difference by providing financial as well as technical support. It has been concluded that the school’s immediate requirements are:-

1. An embossing machine which will enable them to use cheaper Braille paper
2. Braille kits to be used during mathematics lessons
3. New netting for the dormitory windows as the old ones are completely worn out and the area is infested with mosquitoes thus exposing the boarding students to a high risk of contracting malaria
4. Construction of a perimeter wall as there is only a badly damaged wire fence currently which is barely a hindrance to intruders
5. Refurbishment of the kitchen operations as most of the cooking equipment is redundant and firewood is used for cooking. An ecologically healthy technology solution like biogas or solar for cooking looks like the way to proceed.
6. UPSs for the school’s computer lab where the computers currently lack back-up which makes them susceptible to data loss and or damage from bad mains voltage

On Friday 5th March 2010 Sollatek donated 10 units of the Ultima UPS 600VA at a total cost of KSh.41,000/- We are now actively sourcing for Braille kits and the embossing machine (which apparently is not available locally). We intend to canvass support from the African Braille Centre and other similar organizations in order to provide these materials to the Likoni School for the Blind. Should you wish to be enjoined in our CSR project or to assist Sollatek help the less fortunate in our society, please contact us on sales@sollatek.co.ke

Sollatek Kenya participated in the Kilifi Gold Triathlon 2019, in support for raising funds for Takaungu Afya Bora Community Health Unit, an organisation working in one of the poorest areas of Kilifi County to promote and provide essential health services to the community. Their Siku Elfu Mwenga project – translated from Giriama as “1000 Days” –will focus on the important first 1000 days of a child’s life. The funds will help provide growth monitoring, baby vaccinations, nutrition counselling, family planning and education to new mothers and their families, ensuring newborns in Takaungu not only survive but grow into strong, healthy toddlers.