Firms unite to fight corona virus pandemic

Chandaria industries and the National Youth Council have collaborated in a mission to rebuild the country’s economy in the wake of the Coronavirus epidemic through the FURSA programme.

The first step in the partnership is to curb the spread of COVID -19 among the youth by involving them in community sensitisation. The mission dubbed Vijana Tuhepuke Corona.

They say they are committed to helping the youth play an integral role in helping rebuild the economy that is already on its knees following the effects occasioned by the COVID 19.

As part of their efforts to achieve this mission, Chandaria Industries on Wednesday donated material worth Sh2.7 million to be distributed among youth groups and organisations to fight the pandemic.

More money will be used in the sensitisation and empowerment of the youth across the country according to Chandaria Group Chief Executive Officer Dr Darshan Chandaria.

While donating facemasks, liquid hand-wash and tissue paper, Dr Chandaria said his company will work with the NYC not only in the current predicament facing the country but also in future in empowering the youth and also in creation of jobs and opportunities to build their capacity in different fields.

“Our aim is to get necessity items during this COVID 19 period to the youth of this country. This part of our wider campaign to empower the youth because we need them in future for the development of this country,” Dr Chandaria said.

“It is the youth that form the backborn of this country and I thank the government for setting up the National Youth Council because through our partnership we will be able to reach the young generation in every corner of the country,” he added.

Chandaria Group Chief Executive Officer Dr. Darshan Chandaria (L)

Dr Chandaria said his group of companies has entered into a partnership with the NYC through which  they now have a platform to achieve the passion to support the youth.

“Coronavirus will come and go, but we will need the youth to help rebuild our economy which we know is so much battered because of the current happenings,” observed the Chandaria CEO.

The National Youth Council (NYC) is a State Corporation in the Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs which came into being through the enactment of the NYC Act 2009 as the official voice of the youth. The mandate of the council is to advocate for youth opportunities to associate, be represented and participate in the Political, Social, Economic and other spheres of life.

The Council has been at the forefront in championing for the youth role in combating the rapid spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.

NYC Chief Executive Officer Roy Sasaka Telewa said it is through reaching out to the youth that the widespread of Coronavirus will be stopped.

“We have carried sensitization campaigns using the hashtag #VijanaTuepukeCorona, advocated for national cohesion using the hashtag #WeAreUnited and #FursaYetu as one of the critical to curb this ravaging pandemic. Further, we have procured 5,000 face masks for the youth to put vigor and energy in these efforts. In turn, the youth through Youth Serving Organizations will normalize the wearing masks because it is going to be our new norm for the next two to three months as we kick off an online campaign with the hashtag #KaaRadaNaMask,” Sasaka Telewa stated.

As the world struggles under the weight of coronavirus that has halted major operations in most countries, a sense of unity and collaboration is emerging from all corners.

usinesses are putting their resources together to fight the disease. Energy companies have come together to facilitate the blending, packaging and distribution of hand sanitizers to the public. They are working under the multi-agency team mandated by the Head of Public Service to produce alcohol-based hand sanitisers for distribution to low-income and vulnerable groups and populous areas to curb the spread of corona.

Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC), which was mandated to lead in the blending of an initial batch of 600,000 litres of ethanol, mobilised additional raw materials, blending facilities and skilled personnel, packaging and labelling equipment, as well as an end-to-end distribution.

Companies that have joined the initiative include Vivo Energy Kenya, Total Kenya, Ola Energy, Kenol Kobil, Pwani Oil, Sepyana Oil East Africa and Solvochem East Africa, Safaricom, Tala among others.