Mobile company Airtel mentors students in slums

Marion Wambua, Senior Communications and CSR Executive, Airtel engages the students during the mentorship program that focused on issues affecting their education and social life.(James Wanzala, Standard)

Airtel Kenya staff mentored students at the Mukuru Promotion Centre.

They engaged with the students of St Michael's Secondary School to discuss issues affecting their education and social life.

Now in its third year, the Airtel mentorship programme was started to enable employees to share their experiences and achievements with students, especially those from marginalised and under-served areas.

Such encounters are expected to motivate and encourage students to strive for success and embracing the importance of education.

The mentorship also aims to help students identify the careers they love and develop skills that they can use in future.

With an estimated population of more than 700,000 people, Mukuru is one of the biggest slums in Nairobi and is riddled with poverty, crime, drug abuse, prostitution, and other vices that are characteristic of slums all over the world.

Giving back

In a statement, the company's chief executive officer, Prasanta Das Sarma, lauded Airtel employees' "continued commitment to give back to the community by taking time off work to engage and encourage the students".

Speaking during the programme, John Chege, the principal of St Michael's Secondary School, said the students appreciated the effort and support that Airtel has continued to give to the school.

"We are delighted and happy that the students have a chance to interact with Airtel staff, who have encouraged them to be better students and to work hard in order to achieve their dreams.

"I believe that through this programme the lives of not only the students, but also those of the dwellers of Mukuru slum at large, will be impacted," he said.