Interview of Parmain Ole Narikae- Chairman Chase Group Foundation Chairman

Parmain Ole Narikae  Chairman Chase Group Foundation     PHOTO  ; STANDARD

Kenya: This Saturday, an anticipated 5,000 Kenyans will participate in Amref’s Stand Up for African Mothers walk at the Ngong Road Forest Sanctuary to raise Sh5 million for the training of mid-wives in rural Kenya.

This is just one of the initiatives Chase Group, through Chase Group Foundation, is championing. We caught up with the man at the helm of the foundation, Mr Parmain Ole Narikae, to discuss this ambitious plan to increase the number of participants in the walk by 1,500, and raise Sh2 million more.

What informed the development of the Chase Group Foundation, and what would you say is unique about it?

Chase Group Foundation for us as a group of companies is about compassion, caring and giving back to society. Being a corporate citizen, we are driven by being involved in the issues that impact society as a way of engaging and giving back our support and contribution. The foundation is driven by our staff and supported by our clients and partners.

For instance, it is not uncommon to find an entire bank branch running an initiative that involves its customers to fundraise towards training a midwife. That is a differentiator in this sector.

How many initiatives do you have so far?

There are many concerns in society, so to make a real impact, you need to do numerous things. We are strongly focused on women and the environment, and are involved in numerous causes in this space. Currently, a key driver for us is the Stand Up For African Mothers initiative, which we are running in partnership with Amref, with this Saturday’s walk being the third of its kind.

It aims to train 15,000 midwives by 2017, which will improve access to reproductive health services. Once trained, a midwife is able to look after 500 mothers each year and safely deliver 100 babies.

What made you settle on women’s empowerment and environmental conservation?

Society is built on two aspects: nature and nurture. Women nurture society through the creation of strong family units, and strong families build strong societies. Nature is what provides for us as a people. In taking care of these two key impact points, we are taking care of society in its entirety.

The foundation seems to have attracted quite a number of corporate players, judging by the number of companies on your website. Why do you think there is a lot of interest in this foundation?

Our staff, clients and partners are firm supporters of the foundation. The Stand Up For Mother’s initiative is one that is close to our hearts as we want to see the complete eradication of maternal and infant mortality.

 

As a foundation, we may not be able to deal with all the issues, but like Wangari Maathai’s proverbial humming bird, we will keep doing what we can each day until we have made an impact and influenced those around us to do the same.

What are some of the challenges you have faced in your position at the foundation?

Strategic partnerships require patience as they are a result of like-minded institutions coming together for a common purpose. However, each party has different governance structures and in some cases differing expectations that must be aligned to ensure a common objective is met. This particular learning curve is something we are easing into and we see it building stronger, more impactful relationships.

How significant has the Nia Network mobile application been in distributing sanitary pads to girls?

The Nia Network improved accountability for sanitary towel distribution. Now one can track the towels that have been sent out to even the remotest regions of the country, ensuring all contributions make the impact desired.

What do you want the impact of your initiatives to be on the country?

In partnership with Amref, we are training midwives throughout the country and using this opportunity to play our part in the meeting of Millennium Development Goals three and four that seek to reduce child mortality and improve maternal health.

Through the training of midwives, we are also ensuring we promote economic empowerment as these midwives are now able to sustain their families through dignified work.

With the Ngong Road Forest Sanctuary, we are ensuring we sustain our environment, as well as provide the communities that live and work around the forest with sustainable incomes through the use of fallen trees to make biodegradable bricks.

And in partnership with Nia Network, we have been successful in providing girls with sanitary towels, which keeps them in school.

These are just some of the initiatives we are undertaking as responsible citizens who believe in this country, its people and its future.