Uber’s pan-regional intiative span in East Africa to give back to their communities

Tenth Saturday saw children at SOS Children’s Villages in Nairobi, Mombasa, Dar es Salaam and Watoto Childcare Ministries in Kampala get their Christmas gifts early from Uber riders who donated food stuffs, toiletries, books, stationery and kids toys through the Uber App.

Uber partnered with SOS Children’s Villages and Watoto Childcare Ministries to put a smile on the children’s faces through UberGIVING a global ‘give-back’ program that aims at encouraging Uber riders to give back to their communities.

UberGIVING is a pan-regional initiative spanning across 83 cities and 36 countries from Europe, Middle East and Africa. In East Africa, Uber partnered with SOS Children’s Villages in Nairobi, Mombasa and Dar es Salaam and with Watoto Childcare Ministries in Kampala.

In Nairobi, Uber Kenya staff together with renowned comedian Chipukeezy and former Radio host Kalekye Mumo spent the day with the children at the SOS Village in Buruburu Nairobi playing games and handed out the donations to the children.

Receiving the donations at the home was SOS Children’s Village Director, Fredrick Ochieng, who thanked Uber for the timely gesture urging more companies  to follow suit and offer similar support to such institutions.

“On behalf of the SOS Children’s Villages in Nairobi & Dar es Salaam, I’d like to thank Uber for choosing SOS as your partners on this noble initiative. Through such support you inspire the caregivers and children to work harder in order to achieve more,” said Ochieng.

With the unique opportunity that each country offers, UberGIVING focuses on providing people with the opportunity to give back to their cities by offering locally tailored donation and volunteering opportunities at a time when many would like to do good. In Lisbon, Uber riders volunteered at a homeless shelter by shopping and serving food, while riders in Amsterdam volunteered at elderly care centres.

Loic Amado, Uber’s new General Manager for East Africa who was present at the SOS Village in Buruburu Nairobi said, “We are proud to support the SOS Children’s Villages Nairobi, Mombasa, Dar es Salaam and Watoto Childcare Ministries in Kampala enabling them to continue the good work that that they are doing and even achieve more.” Amado who was accompanied by Uber Staff and Uber driver-partners also gave SOS Village in Buruburu a corporate donation of toiletries, food and personal care products.

Amado further thanked all the riders who through a simple tap on the Uber App participated in UberGIVING. “A special thanks to our driver-partners who made this initiative possible by picking up all the donations and delivering them to the homes.  We all came together to make a difference,” concluded Amado.