Bamburi Cement partners with Mama Sarah Obama Foundation
Bamburi Cement partners with Mama Sarah Obama Foundation
Bamburi Cement partners with Mama Sarah Obama Foundation
Bamburi Cement Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Mama Sarah Obama Foundation (MSOF) in regards to construction of the proposed Early Childhood Development (ECD) center in Kogelo, Siaya County.
The ECD center is the first part of an educational campus that will eventually comprise a modern primary school and secondary school geared at helping orphans and children from impoverished families attain education.
Construction of the Early Childhood Development facility has effectively kicked off and is expected to be completed in 2 years’ time.
The entire campus is expected to benefit over 1,000 orphaned and disadvantaged children in the area aged to access basic education.
Bamburi Cement is expected to use innovative green building solutions through the provision of cement stabilized earth blocks for the ECD Center, which will require an estimated 110,000 soil-cement bricks. The technology pioneered under the brand name Durabric was born in response to a need to provide a perfect solution for affordable and climate-friendly construction in the country that will have a positive impact on the environment. The area is currently prone to widespread use of burnt clay bricks that is exacting a serious environmental toll due to deforestation arising from clay bricks firing.
Durabric which is made out of eco-friendly compressed natural earth and cement mix does not require firing to produce strong durable bricks. The earth blocks is a solution geared to support local construction material use through clay for the local communities while having a positive impact on the environment such as minimizing deforestation.
The Company, which is the largest manufacturer of cement in Kenya, will also provide manual stabilized earth machines for the manufacture of the cement stabilized earth blocks.
“Durabric materializes one of Bamburi cement’s contributions to addressing the housing needs and climate challenges of our times,” stated Mr. Bruno Pescheux, “and this project provides a way to showcase this technology, which is designed by world renowned architect Francis Kerre”, he added.
Bamburi Cement is in the process of providing local villagers through MSOF with technical support and training on how to make the cement stabilized earth blocks for the ECD center. It is expected that they will transform the skills garnered into other construction activities of their own houses or other in the future. Bamburi will further extend support to the MSOF contractor on how to use the cement-soil blocks in construction.
MSOF was delighted with the support from Bamburi Cement, saying that it was instrumental in advancing its goal of providing quality education to its beneficiaries.
“The partnership forged with Bamburi Cement is a significant achievement that will not only change the course of life of many disenfranchised children but will also substantially increase the skills of many young adults who are learning a trade that they can use in the future to better their lives and that of the community as a whole.” Said Debra Akello Executive Director, of the Mama Sarah Obama Foundation.
MSOF was started by Mama Sarah Obama, who outgoing US President Barack Obama affectionately calls “Granny Sarah”. Mama Sarah has dedicated her life to the education of disadvantaged orphans.