With the successful launch and growth of our Kenyan based office, Hallmark started promoting and working with several charities in the region. All of our charities are checked and validated by ourselves and we commit a percentage of our profits every year to them as well as running fund-raising initiatives.

 

Currently we are working with the Kibera Girls Soccer Academy, about which there is some info below - take a look at their website as well: http://www.kiberagirlssocceracademy.org 

 

Additionally, the company will be doing a climb up Mt Longonot in Kenya after Christmas to burn off the turkey lunches! Please find the unhealthiest consultant you can and sponsor us through justgiving in our misguided efforts! Photos will be posted of the survivors in January.

 

KGSA

 

Kibera is the largest slum in Africa and the second largest in the world. It is home to over one million people and extends across 1.5 square miles - roughly the size of New York City's 

Central park. Kibera makes up only five percent of the land in Nairobi while housing sixty percent of the population. Overcrowding alone has led to high levels of tuberculosis, respiratory infections, whooping cough, malaria, urban dengue and yellow fever.

 

The slums of Kibera are among the worst living conditions in the entire world. The area lacks sufficient running water, sewage systems, trash collection, health care services, quality public education, adequate housing, roads and safety. 

 

Kibera, like many urban slums throughout the world, has been declared an "illegal settlement", allowing the government to disavow all formal recognition and responsibility for the slum.

 

Additionally, gender inequalities are a growing problem in Kenya, particularly in Kibera. Women are rarely afforded the same opportunities as men. One of the most significant examples of the gender disparity is in the failure to provide access to secondary education. Two individuals, Adbul Kassim and Salim Sebit, have dedicated their lives to alleviating this problem.

 

Abdul and Salim grew up in, and currently work in Kibera and are extremely motivated to combat the persistent gender inequalities. In 2002, the started a soccer team for girls called, Girls' Soccer in Kibera (GSK). Their hope was to foster a supportive community, providing emotional and mental support for young women by establishing a soccer program. The girls quickly were competing against boys' teams from the community and it served as a middle ground for both genders; it provided a space for acceptance and encouragement.

 

The soccer program was a success. However, the looming dangers of slum life persisted as the young women still fell victim to crime. Rape, forced prostitution, disease and drugs are all a reality in Kibera for women. This led Abdul and Salim to the conclusion to establish a school.

 

Neither of them were in a position to finance this plan. Initially, Salim offered his own house and moved in with Abdul. In the meantime, they reached out for financial support. Finally, in 2006, the Kibera Grls Soccer Academy was established.

 

Today, KGSA is composed of fourteen teachers with over 130 students and it continues to grow. Through providing academics - in and outside of the classroom, artistic and athletic opportunities, KGSA hopes to inspire the young women of Kibera to become advocates for change.

 

 

What Hallmark is doing

With help from our clients and candidates, Hallmark is supporting the building of a new dormitory for the KGSA. Many of the girls at the end of the day leave a safe environment at school to go to an unsafe environment at home. With the new Hallmark dormitory, many of these girls will be able to make the most of the education they have a chance at achieving. 

 

We are currently fund-raising for this initiative amongst others. If you would like to find out more about the organisations we support or if you would like to join us on one of our charitable initiatives (not for the faint hearted), please call us on the numbers above or email guiam.wainwright@hallmarkrecruitment.co.uk