News

  18/08/2016 | Technology

Haas supports children in Nairobi

'Because education matters' is the motto of Austria's Haas, a company which is engaged in supporting a bakery apprentice workshop and helping needy children in Korogocho, a slum on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya. Irene Kapaun, Haas Marketing Communication & Public Relations Manager, recently visited Nairobi in order to report about the project's progress. "We want to help create a future worth living for Korogocho's children," Irene Kapaun explained. Active measures against malnutrition amongst children include the establishment of an integrated training bakery at a local school. Haas supports a project entitled 'bread and education for a better future', which ensures that children are not only offered a nutritious meal every day, but also an education enabling them to provide for themselves as adults. Within the project, 98 children in primary schools are cared for. In addition to one hot meal every day children are provided with fresh fruit as well as basic medical care. The project's team helps children regain a normal life with structured daily routines. A special rehabilitation program helps drug addicted children, but above all, the school offers psycho-social support, a sort of home, a secure space. "The measures have changed their lives dramatically: They have found their self-esteem, they have new hope for the future," said Irene Kapaun. Once the children finish school they can enrol in apprenticeship courses to become bakers. A European master baker trains the young students in collaboration with African bakers. "In these two-year courses students learn the basic skills of the bakery trade and after graduation, they are well equipped to find employment or to open their own businesses: Well trained professionals are still hard to find in Nairobi," Irene Kapaun pointed out. Haas supports the bakery until the end of 2016. “We are very happy, that the bakery will be able to finance itself until the end of the year. Congratulations to our project partners! “Education is still close to our hearts and therefore we will continue our engagement in the future,” Irene Kapaun noticed in advance.

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