SEACOM celebrates sixth Foundation Day by helping communities across Africa

Telecom enabler SEACOM celebrated the sixth anniversary of its commercial launch by spending time with – and providing support to – local communities in the African countries where it has a direct presence. In accordance with “Foundation Day” tradition, SEACOM staff continent-wide got out of their offices for one day to assist and uplift people and organisations in need of aid.

 In Nairobi, Kenya, the team visited S.C.R.E.A.M.Africa, or Save the Children Reconciliation Education and Assistance Ministry. Located in Utawala, this Christian charity rescues children who are homeless or from dysfunctional homes and provides them with education to secure their future.

 It strives to heal and reunite their families; in cases where this is not desirable or possible, it gives the children a safe place to live. Currently over 70 boys are in the programme. SEACOM is providing finance for basics such as water tanks, food, and books for the kids.

SEACOM in Mombasa, Kenya, initiated two projects for primary schools for Foundation Day. It has built pit latrines for boys and girls at the Saint Angeline Maraluot Primary School and Saints Peter & Paul Primary School in Jomvu Projects. At Longo Primary School in Likoni, SEACOM provided school shoes, bags and uniforms to 100 orphans. It is also helping to renovate classrooms and paint buildings.

 SEACOM Tanzania representatives met with the Albinism community members from Chama cha Maalbino to donate items to make their lives more comfortable, including spectacles, caps, t-shirts, and sunscreen lotions. Later in the day, the team went to the Kijiji cha Furaha (Village of Joy and Hope) orphanage and met with the children where they donated food, drinks, stationary, and other clothing.

 SEACOM in South Africa has undertaken to resurface the tennis court at Riversands Primary School in Diepsloot – the facility also serves as an after-school play area for the children. After the contractor tasked with the resurfacing job completed its part, South African employees held an event to paint the lines of the court, fix the surrounding fence, clean out the sports storage room, donate sports kit to the children, and donate whiteboards to the teacher’s classrooms.

The Mozambique office supported Centro de Reabilitação Juvenil Ingrid Chawner, a school that rehabilitates young street kids, provides them with education and strives to integrate them into society. It has sponsored computer literacy training for two employees at the school to teach the kids and maintain the computer lab. SEACOM Mozambique has alsoset up a computer lab where the kids will be able to get computer lessons. This will be a two to three year programme.

The SEACOM office in Mauritius supported a Children Day Care Centre in Mangalkhan village at Floreal with refurbishment of the floor, donation of new fittings and furnishings for the kitchen and bathroom and supplied the center with a range of sundries such as tables & chairs, uniforms, tracksuits, books, play mats, toys, cups, mugs, some kitchen utensils etc. The team also organized a lunch function and giveaway of goodie bags to the kids.

“It has been six years of excitement, change, and evolution for SEACOM,” says SEACOM CEO, Byron Clatterbuck. “During this time, we have helped to change the communications landscape in Africa, and today we carry the most data traffic out of Africa to Europe of any service provider on the continent.”

 “What makes it worthwhile is knowing that we are helping to uplift economies and empower people by making connectivity cheaper, better and more accessible. With that in mind, this celebration is a way to thank the community for being part of our journey and give something back to them.”