The SMEC Foundation has partnered with STC since 2012, providing ongoing grant support and assistance across a range of community projects. Recent projects have included the construction of two new homes in the Miti Mingi Village, which delivers family-based care for more than 120 orphaned and vulnerable children who have lost or are at risk of losing parental care.

New project: Early Steps program

In 2020, the SMEC Foundation provided funding for STC Kenya’s Early Steps project in partnership with Sam and Steph Busbridge of the Busbridge Family.

The Early Steps program works with 11 public primary schools from East Pokot and Nakuru, providing approximately 4,200 pupils with inclusive and effective learning programs.

Project update: Further development of the McKendrick House Orphanage

The Alastair McKendrick House, a home for orphans, was officially opened in Dar es Salaam in October 2019. The project is an initiative of SMEC’s Africa CSR Committee that has been supported by the SMEC Foundation and the McKendrick family. Alastair McKendrick is a former long-serving SMEC Director and Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO), who passed away in September 2018, but his legacy lives on through his contribution to the children of Tanzania.

The Alastair McKendrick House can cater for up to 64 children and is built on an area of approximately 10,854sqm.

In 2020, following final government approvals, pipe borne water and power were connected and the orphanage was fully furnished. The McKendrick family also made a further donation towards the construction of a chicken barn and kitchen garden to support the orphanage’s sustainable food supply. Construction of the chicken barn is complete and the process of chicken rearing expected to commence soon.