As part of our Responsible Business program, the IKM team visited The Angel Centre for Abandoned Children. The center has been in existence since 2009 and takes in abandoned children below the age of two and aims to ensure the babies receive basic human rights, love & affection, medical care, complementary therapy and good nutrition. At IKM, we recognize that we have a duty to care for the welfare of the community we live in and to participate in activities aimed at improving the economic, environmental, ecological and social welfare of that community.

Nearly 500 children are cared for by the Good Samaritan Children’s Home and Rehabilitation Centre in Mathare Valley near the Kosovo slum in Nairobi. There are 176 children who reside at the home, and 300 children that are fed by the home’s outreach program. Unfortunately, cramped space at the home meant that 40 children were sleeping in one room. The IKM Foundation helped to solve this problem by funding the tiling and plastering of five new rooms that now serve as dormitories. The children now enjoy less congested lodgings. The visiting IKM staff also contributed food and toiletries.

The Little Sisters of the Poor (Nyumbaya Wazee) cares for 65 elderly persons in Nairobi, Kenya. IKM provided assistance to the home through the purchase and installation of new solar panels. IKM employees further assisted with cash donations and time spent caring for the elderly. The handover ceremony was well-received by everyone at the home, and for IKM it was rewarding to see how the firm could positively impact the lives of those in need.

Brandon was only eight months old when a group of thugs stormed into his grandmother’s home, stole money and mutilated Brandon. The screams of his mother and grandmother attracted the attention of neighbors and he  was rushed to hospital only to be abandoned by his mother. His grandmother has since loved, supported and encouraged him through the difficult journey he has faced, including being stigmatized in school. After being made aware of Brandon's plight through news channels, the IKM Foundation stepped in and assisted him with advanced medical treatment. IKM is pleased to report that Brandon’s surgeries were successful and he is excelling in his studies. IKM Foundation continues to support Brandon by paying for his school fees.

Head Start Kenya aims to provide life changing opportunities for talented young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and those living in remote communities. The program is designed to support students to build confidence, create networks and gain knowledge.

There are more than 130 Head Start Scholars across five regions including Australia, China, New Zealand, the UK and Kenya. The long-term aim of Head Start Kenya is to increase socioeconomic diversity in the legal profession, and ensure our firm and profession reflects our community.

Head Start Kenya, part of the global Head Start program, is a joint initiative of DLA Piper and IKM Foundation.