Introduction

AccessKenya is fully committed to its employees, partners, the environment and the communities around it.

We recognize that more than ever before, companies, investors, government and the public are interested in how businesses conduct themselves, and want companies to actively demonstrate their commitment to good corporate citizenship.

By doing the right thing, we further enhance our company reputation, strengthen our ability to play a constructive role in advancing good public policy, increase customer trust and achieve our business objectives.

Philanthropic Programs

Largely focusing on ICT which also is our key competence, our CSR agenda supports many sustainable programs in areas such as education, health, the disadvantaged, children, HIV & Aids, arts & culture. In addition, AccessKenya has an emergency response fund which assists in emergency humanitarians situations i.e. famine.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE:

• Humanitarian Aid Initiative - At the beginning of 2008, AccessKenya launched a “Shilling for Shilling initiative” that saw the Company match every shilling donated by the Groups’ staff from their pay packets.


• The group’s 200 staff members raised a total amount of Kshs.375,000, as well as made donations of clothes, blankets and children's items to aid fellow Kenyans affected by the post-election strife. The Company, which launched the internal fund-raising appeal in February 2008, doubled this contribution from its own funds and contributed a total amount of Kshs.750,000 to the Kenya Red Cross.


• Other similar initiatives include a cash donation to the ‘special humanitarian mission in Kilifi’ in 2005.

EDUCATION:

• Starehe Boys Centre – Catering for the education needs of bright but destitute boys, AccessKenya has supported the institution since 2004.


• Computer For Schools Kenya – This is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development of e-competent young Kenyans through the provision of computers and auxiliary services to public secondary schools and related learning institutions, and community access centres. AccessKenya has supported the organization for the past four years.


• Kibera Cisco Networking Academy – AccessKenya in partnership with Cisco Systems set up this facility at the heart of Kibera in June 2007 to empower the community by providing training to young students in key IT skills, which can be translated into jobs for income generation.


• Association for Progressive Communication – APC is an international network of organizations founded in 1990 to provide communication infrastructure, including Internet-based applications to groups and individuals who work for peace, human rights, protection of the environment, and sustainability. AccessKenya provides free Internet access to the organization. AccessKenya has supported APC for the past 1 year.


• Thika School – AccessKenya has been supporting this institution since the beginning of 2008.

• Operation Smile – This charity performs medical surgery to correct palate deformities in Children. AccessKenya has supported Operation Smile for the last 3 years.


• Dettol Heart Run – The objective of the Dettol Heart Run is to perform free heart surgery for children and young adults. AccessKenya supports this cause by participating in the run every year.
• Heart to Heart Run – Inaugurated in 2007 to raise funds to correct heart conditions in children similar to the Dettol Heart Run initiative, AccessKenya participated in this run in 2007.


• Naivasha Women’s Healthcare Centre – AccessKenya continues to support this facility and has done so since 2007.


• Standard Chatered Marathon – This initiative is to raising funds to restore sight to the blind. AccessKenya participates in this run on an annual basis.


• AMREF – In 2007, AccessKenya gave a cash donation towards AMREF’s 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner, aimed at raising funds to create community based health workers.


• Ol Malo Trust – Born of the devastating drought of 1999/2000 in Samburuland, the OL MALO TRUST is a pioneering community charity. It has built a profitable arts workshop, establishes water resources and organizes health clinics and surgical camps to eradicate trachoma; a treatable and preventable disease which is causing blindness to many Samburu, especially children. In 2006, AccessKenya purchased artwork from the trust for the company Christmas Cards and Calendars; funds raised went into helping the community.

THE DISADVANTAGED:

• Association for the physically disabled of Kenya (APDK) – This NGO focuses on providing assistance to the disabled in Kenya (prosthetic limbs, wheel chairs, crutches, treatment, funding, empowerment etc). AccessKenya has supporting the National Coordinating Office based in Nairobi for the last two years.


• Bombolulu Workshop & Cultural Center MSA (BWCC) – This organization was setup in 1969 to rehabilitate persons with disabilities. Now, a project of APDK, it runs 4 sheltered workshops namely Jewellery, Leather, Textile and Woodcarving where the artisans with different disabilities produce handicrafts for both local and export markets. AccessKenya has supported BWCC since 2005.


• Kenya Society for the Blind – Rehabilitating the blind through education, capacity building and healthcare, AccessKenya has been supporting KSB since the beginning of 2008.

CHILDREN:

• Child life Trust – This NGO supports children, focusing on critical areas, such as food security. AccessKenya has supported them since 2007.


• Watu Wa Maana Children’s Home – AccessKenya has supported this home, based in Ruiru, for the past 2 years by providing food, clothing, school uniforms and school books as well as organizing social fun events for the children. At the beginning of 2007, we partnered with PSI (Population Services International) for a joint fun day/food donations for this home and for Focus Children’s home which is also based in Ruiru.


• Kibera Arts Competition (WFP & ACCESSKENYA) – In December 2006, AccessKenya in partnership with World Food Program sponsored an arts competition for school children in Kibera to identify and reward talent, as well as create a sense of acceptance among the children within this community. AccessKenya also purchased and used part of the art work produced for our 2006 Christmas cards and the 2007 calendars.


• UNICEF – In December 2007, AccessKenya partnered with UNICEF to successfully drive a campaign “Look out for Leaders who look out for Children”, aimed at mobilizing aspiring parliamentary candidates to commit to the passing of legislation that will protect the rights of children, particularly in the areas of child survival, quality education, and social protection.

HIV & AIDS

• Beacon of Hope – This facility rehabilitates women living with HIV & AIDS to give them a source of livelihood. AccessKenya has been supporting the facility since the beginning of 2008.


• National Museums of Kenya – AccessKenya has supported their online HIV program for over 3 years and continues to do so.

ARTS & CULTURE:

• The Godown Arts Centre – Since its inception in 2003, the Godown has steadily become known as the home for Kenyan artists; a nurturing environment where there is freedom of expression and skills development. AccessKenya has supported the centre for the past 1 year.


• RAMOMA - Rahimtulla Museum of Modern Art is one of Kenya’s leading exhibition spaces for Contemporary African Art. AccessKenya has supported RAMOMA since 2007.

SECURITY:

• Now Foundation – In September 2007, AccessKenya donated Kshs.100,000 to the NOW Foundation, a private sector initiative that aims to mobilize and engage private sector and individuals to put “an end to all forms of violence against children, women and men” in society. AccessKenya has committed to offer similar support to the foundation for the next 3 years.

SPORTS :

• East African Safari Classic – AccessKenya was one of the main sponsors of this event that took place between November and December 2007, providing free Internet connectivity at 6 sites in East Africa to facilitate international as well as local media coverage throughout the event.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP :

• East African Association – AccessKenya has supported EAA since 2007, by far one of the most influential and informative business associations in Kenya.

ENVIRONMENT

AccessKenya is committed to continued excellence and leadership in protecting and conserving the environment for future generations. This is the responsibility of the management as well as every employee. We are sensitive to the concerns of the public and accountable to them for our decisions and actions.

We believe in the responsible integration of environmental and economic considerations in all decisions affecting our operations. This implies a broad view of human welfare, a long term perspective about the consequences of today’s activities and global cooperation. The issues integrated in our business strategy include effective use or conservation of some types of resources, consistency with other planning efforts and mitigation of unavoidable impacts.

Some of our initiatives towards environmental management include:

• Regular environmental audits by NEMA.


• Annual AccessKenya Environmental Day.


• Meeting and if possible exceeding the requirements of all relevant laws in regards to resource utilization and conservation.


• Promote reduction, recycling and reuse of all office resources which include, water, electricity, paper among others.


• Using email for intra office memos, newsletters and general communication thus saving on paper.


• Scheduling office travel in a manner which allows for car pooling.


• Regularly servicing our company cars, allowing for vehicles to be in tip top condition and reducing harmful emissions to environment.

Externally through our philanthropic work, we are also supporting initiatives whose programs focus on environmental conservation such as:

• Wildlife Clubs of Kenya (WCK).


• Rhino Charge.

AccessKenya environmental policy is driven by our environmental vision, “achieving a cleaner environment for sustainable living”.

EMPLOYEES

Our employees are our single greatest asset. Our continued success depends on the character, ability, productivity and cooperation of all AccessKenya employees. To invest in and care for our employees, the company has put in place:

• A HIV Program for staff and their families.


• Capacity building programs for our staff through training programs for skill development.


• Medical policy for employees.


• Pension and other reward/recognition schemes.

The company encourages a positive working relationship through mutual respect; respect by the Company for the dignity of the individual and respect by the individual for the Company's goals and its obligations toward customers and other stakeholders.