14 DAY TRIAL // Kids from Nairobi proved that some of the best charitable initiatives don't necessarily rely on significant financial support. They managed to help 500 poor Kenyan families rebuild their homes, by offering them roofing materials manufactured out of recycled soft drink pouches.
Their generous intention came as an effective solution to the desperate cry of help of hundreds of people whose lives were significantly affected by the fire that took place earlier this year in the low-income Nairobi neighborhood.
The location is already notorious for the poverty of its inhabitants, and the devastating event only made things worse.
The recycling program announced by Ekotech company gathered the support of kids from 80 Nairobi primary schools, proving that generosity and altruism are not age-related.
The participants helped manufacture materials destined to reconstruct the households of the individuals from Mukuru Kwa Reuben district.
The stakeholders behind the Ribena beverage supported several humanitarian projects for three months, in order to minimize the effects of the fire upon the local community.
In order to stimulate the pupils' interest and dedication to this noble cause, organizations announced that the winning school would receive 50,000 Kenyan shillings (KES), or about $500, for school supplies. Second prize was worth 30,00 KES ($300), and third was 20,000 KES ($200).
Thika Road Christian School was the institution which did the best job. Officials said that its participants succeeded in collecting 1,902 waste packets.
Peace Junior Academy and Ruaraka Academy ranked second and third, managing to gather 1,245 and 1,208 recycled items respectively.
Their efforts have been rewarded twice. Besides the financial benefits, the participants were given the opportunity to offer the results of their work to the inhabitants in need during a donation ceremony.
Even more important appears to be the fact that kids have learned that their contribution counts, at a very fragile age. This recycling program has taught them the lesson of environmental preservation and philanthropy.