Kennedy Kidili, (first from left), general manager of Seven Sunday Ltd, a Chinese manufacturer in Kenya that is supporting local students, poses with school and county officials at Kanaani Integrated Primary School in Machakos County, Kenya, on Oct 6, 2020. (OTIATO OPALI / CHINADAILY.COM.CN)
Students and teachers at a Kenyan school on Tuesday welcomed executives from a Chinese manufacturer operating in the East African country, with the visitors keen to offer support to the school that includes children with disabilities.
Seven Sunday has committed to installing the roofing insulation in six classrooms at the school in addition to donating carpets to increase the comfort of the disabled pupils in the lower classes
Also at the Kanaani Integrated Primary School and Kanaani High School complex to show their appreciation for the visiting executives from Seven Sunday Ltd were parents as well as representatives from the national government, Machakos County and the Kenya Association of Manufacturers.
Seven Sunday, which has built up a name as an insulation manufacturer in Kenya, donated maize, beans, rice and other foods to ensure that the children at the primary school have a healthy lunch.
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The primary school integrates able-bodied and disabled students in its education program.
Seven Sunday has committed to installing the roofing insulation in six classrooms at the school in addition to donating carpets to increase the comfort of the disabled pupils in the lower classes.
Pandemic impact
Esther Musila, the headmistress at the primary school, said the help could not have come at a better time because the school has been struggling to improve conditions for the disabled students, in particular. That challenge has been made more difficult by the coronavirus pandemic, she said.
"We not only deal with disabled children but also children coming from very poor backgrounds,"Musila said."Sometimes as teachers, we have had to dig into our own pockets to provide necessities like food for the students and that is why we appreciate the help."
In addition, Seven Sunday has also offered to sponsor orphaned students at the high school by paying their school fees.
Seven Sunday General Manager Kennedy Kidili said that, with the company being in its first year in Kenya, the management identified a needy school for support as the company sought to work with communities to eradicate poverty and improve people's lives.
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"This is just the beginning and we intend to identify a number of schools in Machakos County that we can work with for a start," Kidili said.
Lazarus Kivuva, the cabinet secretary for trade in Machakos County, thanked Seven Sunday for not only investing in the county through its factory but also for going the extra mile and extending a helping hand to hard-up students.
"By offering this help, you have touched real lives since we can only change the future of our children through education," Kivuva said.
