HerNovation #ChoosesToChallenge By Gifting

HerNovation, in partnership with other private sector institutions, recently donated assorted electronics and hygiene items to Laikipia Air Base schools in an event presided over by the Defence Cabinet Secretary (CS) Amb. Dr Monica Juma as part of a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

HerNovation, a platform created to bud, nurture, and grow women in the IT industry, donated the said items in partnership with Huawei Kenya, Dale Carnegie, L’Oreal, Farmers’ choice, Kimfay, Stanbic Bank, Wentors and, ESET.

Speaking at the school grounds, the Defence CS expressed her gratitude to HerNovation for the unwavering support saying that women play a major role in enabling a better decision making in companies, hence creating sustainable organizations and increasing annual philanthropic contributions.

She said, “You can see the amount of focus and effort invested in this school. The children feel the school is new. Teachers are feeling they are being provided with assets. It feels like a new school. But I want you to now it is not what you lack. It is how you activate what you have.”

The CS expressed her worries that 10 per cent of students did not return to school post-COVID, noting that as a cause for concern.

“There has to be a way to ensure that every child must come back to school. I wonder how many of them are girls who got pregnant or got married. This should be raised with the Ministry of Education so that they can try to track it backwards,” she added.

The gifted items included 10 computers from Stepwise, antivirus solutions from Eset, Sanitary products from Kim-Fay, 1000 pairs of slippers and 500 pairs of shoes from Ahadi Kenya Trust, a commitment by Huawei Technologies to offer training to the students and additional sanitary facilities for the students secured by Stanbic Bank.

Speaking, Laura Chite, CEO, CIO East Africa and Co-founder of Hernovation said, “Be curious, use the computers to see an opportunity in the ICT industry is very important.” “Don’t wait for the teachers to teach you. It is about playing around with computers and learning things for yourselves.”

She added that Eset provided the antivirus because children need to be safe online and that, that is very critical now.

“We are living in the digital age where skills are needed, and children are increasingly learning to be computer-savvy at younger and younger ages and therefore the need to be safe and secure online,” Laura intimated.

Also present at the event were the Laikipia Airbase Commander Brig Bernard Waliaula, CIO, Stanbic Bank and HerNovation Co-Founder Hernovation, Catherine Muraga, Vice Director, Delivery Operations Centre at Huawei Technologies and FoHuawei (WITH), Channel Manager Eset, Ken Kimani, Laikipia County Director of Education, Susan Murerwa, Laikipia County TSC representatives, among others.