On Friday, Microsoft unveiled the five non-profit organizations in Kenya which will benefit from $50,000 each as part of the Upgrade Your World initiative, a year-long program that celebrates people and organizations doing great things.
The organizations, Africa Yoga Project, AIESEC Kenya, Beacon of Hope Africa, Kids Comp Camp and Vision Africa, received online votes from thousands of people.
Microsoft celebrated the launch of Windows 10 on July 29, 2015, by committing to the Upgrade Your World initiative which included a series of partnerships with ten global and 100 local nonprofit organizations making an impact in the following 10 countries: Australia, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States. The initiative is in line with Microsoft’s mission to empower every person and organization to achieve more.
In September this year, Microsoft identified 50 of the nonprofit organizations (five of the 10 in each country) to receive a monetary donation of $50,000 each, and invited people around the world to vote for their favorite local nonprofit organizations in each country to help select the additional 50 organizations.
In Kenya, the five pre-selected organizations were the African Centre For Women, Information and Communications Technology (ACWICT), Computers for Schools Kenya (CFSK), Homeboyz Foundation, I Choose Life – Africa and inABLE.
“We have seen and heard from thousands of people who have shared their stories and the stories of their nonprofit organizations,” said Mr. Kunle Awosika, Microsoft Kenya Country Manager during a celebration party to unveil the organizations in Nairobi.“We admire the great work done by the 10 Kenyan Non-profit organizations in their respective causes and look forward to working with them” he added.
Quotes
“We are thrilled to be recognized by Microsoft and to have had the opportunity to participate in the Upgrade Your World initiative in Kenya. Africa Yoga Project teachers, community members, and volunteers have all enjoyed this chance to celebrate the work we do, partner with Microsoft, and share our joy in supporting youth, yoga, and wellness in Kenya.” – Paige Elenson, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Africa Yoga Project:
“We believe that courtesy of this partnership with Microsoft Kenya, this collaboration will elevate our reach and grow our impact thus helping us achieve our goal of engaging and developing every young person in Kenya” – AIESEC President in Kenya, Dennis Lugano.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors and the entire fraternity of Beacon Of Hope, we are pleased to accept a fruitful partnership with Microsoft and its affiliates to continue empowering the community in sustainable ways as prescribed in our vision, mission and statement of values.” – Beacon of Hope Africa.
“We are so excited to be part of this great initiative by Microsoft to Upgrade Our World. We are glad to be empowered to empower our children and youth to achieve more for themselves, and their communities. This is in line with Kids Comp Camp mission statement ‘Shared Passion, Combined Efforts, leads to Greater Impact” – Caleb Ndaka, Kids Comp Camp Lead.
“Vision Africa is delighted to be in partnership with Microsoft Corp. We truly believe that partnerships such as this pave the way for wider, more sustainable impact. Vision Africa is extremely grateful to have been endorsed by our community and, in turn, by Microsoft. We look forward to working together to create brighter futures for vulnerable children and young people through Provision, Protection and Preparation.” – Deborah Kimathi, Field Director, Vision Africa.
