“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they have the heart.” – Elizabeth Andrew
In October 2020, Sahara Foundation launched the Sahara Impact Fund (“SIF”)/ Governance Unusual programme which was created to support the generation of innovative solutions aimed at increasing access to clean energy and promoting sustainable environments in a manner that results in measurable social impact. 10 Fellows were selected from Cameroon, Malawi, Nigeria and Rwanda and they currently undergo a year-long Fellowship. Remember that the Foundation recently changed its focus areas to what and what? (the first person who sends the correct answer to sahara.foundation@sahara-group.com would get a gift from us ?).
In kickstarting this Fellowship, an important part was a two-week virtual workshop. Part of the activities held during the workshop was a Mock Pitch Session where we had in-house experts evaluate the pitches of the Fellows and provided feedback which were critical in helping ensure their business ideas are watertight and checks positively on the business and social impact metric.
Foluso Sobanjo, the MD (Ag) of Asharami Synergy, Sahara’s Downstream Company; Michael Somorin, Sahara’s Group General Counsel; and Akinola Oladejo, head of business performance management graciously offered their time and skills during the pitch sessions in January. The Fellows indeed attested to having to review their ideas following feedback from our judges!
Since 2014, Sahara Foundation has continued to carry out cataract surgeries and screening for the elderly in Katiola Region, Cote D Ivoire. This has been a major threat to the community members who get blind due to their inability to afford necessary cost required to get screened and treated early. The initiative’s aim is to raise public awareness on the importance of regular eye examination and eye- sight management in a bid to reduce cataract disease incidence.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and disruptions in healthcare globally, our volunteer staff, Claudia Kambou and Edem Degbor ensured the program held successfully. Thanks to their efforts, we were able to screen 753 individuals for cataract and other eye defects over a 6- day period; 261 individuals received free eye medication and counselling; and we carried out 101 cataract surgeries – all at no cost to these community members.
Lastly, the month of February was the #reachoutthisvalentine campaign that had staff members reach out to others in their various communities as we continue the fight against COVID-19. Volunteer staff in Abuja Adeola Wande, Ali Okeme, Amaka Onwubuya, Besidone Edema, Dominion Agu, Edima Ekpe, Hamza Ahmed, Iruoma Benson-Okoh, Jessica Akintade, John Dasilva, Juwon Olukpeka, Kelechi Oguh, Kingsley Bassey, Mariam Biliaminu, Martins Omosoga, Omolola Olamide, Safiyya Sanusi, Tina Sawok, and Udeme Umanah made a visit to a secondary school where they donated 300 branded nosemasks while in Ghana, Yvette Selormey, MD, Eyram Dorcoo, Michael Baah Duodo, Oladimeji Williams, Adeoti Onabolu, Linda Kuddy, paid a visit to the Tema Community to donate nose masks, sanitizers, spray bottles for dispensing alcohol based sanitisers for students and teachers. In Côte d’Ivoire, Mariam Diarrassouba, Marguy Packlan, Claudia Kambou, Tamia Yao, David Zegbe, took the campaign to the Municipal Hospital of Vridi Cite.
Our staff volunteers help ensure that projects like these which are key to driving the foundation’s objectives in our various host communities run successfully.
We are truly grateful to them!
Follow us on social media @saharapcsr to stay tuned for volunteering opportunities in your location.
