This archive report was first published on 12 December 2019.
On December 12, 2019, Coca-Cola Foundation made a significant contribution to the lives of women in Kenyan slums by granting Sh25 million to Shining Hope for Communities (Shofco).
The grant, which is part of Coca-Cola's efforts to provide sustainable solutions to challenges facing slum dwellers in Kenya, will enable over 2,500 women from disadvantaged backgrounds to collect plastic waste and sell it to make a living.
According to Susan Maingi, Director of Public Affairs at Coca-Cola, Kenya imports an estimated 20,000 tonnes of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) products annually, most of which end up as waste. This grant presents an opportunity to address this issue and make informal settlements cleaner and more habitable.
Shining Hope for Communities (Shofco) Chief Executive Officer Kennedy Odede expressed his gratitude to Coca-Cola Foundation for the grant, saying it will enable women in Kibra, Mathare, and other slums to commit some of their funds to savings. These savings will be used to secure personal loans for self-development at lower rates.
"Our aim is to ensure that after three months women can have access to loans to empower themselves and their families," Odede said.
