Africa-Press – Kenya. Kenya has been picked among the beneficiaries of the EMEA Impact Fund by Citi Bank that seeks to support charity organisations in their social endeavours across the Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Clean Start Kenya was selected to benefit from the fund as they work towards supporting women and children who have been impacted by the criminal justice system, helping them reintegrate back to society.
On Friday, the international financial cooperation awarded Clean Start $25 000(Sh2.5 million) cheque.
Employees from the bank’s branches across the globe suggests charity or social organizations close to their heart they would wish to benefit from the fund.
The initiative was started by Citi Bank CEO David Livingstone three years ago after he reached out to all branches in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa regions (EMEA) to have employees pitch their suggestions at the beginning of every year.
“The purpose of the fund is to give employees an opportunity to receive funding for a charity that is close to their hearts,” Trade operations head sub–Saharan Africa Citi Bank Sarah Kaminchia said.
It is from these suggestions that Citi Bank is able to identify organizations they can choose to support.
“This year, we identified Clean Start which is a social enterprise that focuses on empowering and transforming the lives of women, girls and children impacted by the criminal justice system,” Kaminchia said.
Clean Start reaches out to these groups of persons through circles of healing and tables of support, through a programme called Anzisha biashara yako (start your business) and finally, they have a coalition of formerly imprisoned women.
This particular fund is specific to charities that employees select.
“As EMEA countries, we identify, come up with a proposal that meets the selection criteria and this is then submitted for review and shortlisting,” Kaminchia said.
The selection committee in London came up with a list of five finalists out of the possible 55 country groups across Europe, Middle East and African.
The first two finalists received $25 000(Sh2.5 million), the third received $10 000 and The Peoples Award which employees get to vote and decide who gets it. While number four and five received $5ooo (Sh0.5 million) each.
Kenya, Cameroon, Italy, and the UK were among the finalists set to benefit from the EMEA Impact Fund.
“This year, our charity was in the final and we received funding, last year we did not participate but next year we have a chance to participate again,” Kaminchia said
She said the fact they were already volunteers at the discharge board at Lang’ata Women’s Prison gave credible weight to their proposal to have Clean Start benefit from the fund.
” It is not just Citi Bank giving a cheque of 25 000 dollars, but also the role of Citi volunteers in supporting that particular charity,” Kaminchia added.
She hopes that through their participation in the discharge board, they can keep coordinating with Clean Start to give these women a safe landing after prison.
” We really felt these are the forgotten women that is why we decided to work with this issue that society keeps forgetting,” Kaminchia said.
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