Despite being a small company, Kitengela Hot Glass assists as much as possible with the local and wider communities. Its broad-ranging contributions include following Fair Trade guidelines; paying a staff of 35 well above standard wages; and providing them with loans, transport, medical, and controlled working hours and conditions. The studio also supports the local school in Tuala by supplying desks, chairs, water during drought season, exam and reference materials, and storybooks.
“We’ve also granted individual scholarships for the local orphanage,” says Anselm. “We’ve planted trees, repaired roads and collected garbage. Our directors donate time to charities and have assisted in raising up to Ksh 4 million/year. This money is allocated on a case-by-case basis via The Craft Fair Trust
In addition, Kitengela Hot Glass donates more than 30 raffle prizes to a myriad of causes annually. In the coming years, the company is planning to focus on local adolescents in its vicinity. The goal here is to help them to better connect with their environment (e.g., via tree planting, creating a nearby park) and resident wildlife. Kitengela Hot Glass’s hope is that these efforts will stimulate greater appreciation for and pride in the “neighbourhood” among the young.
“The picture below is of Oloosirkon Government Primary School/Shilinge Primary School and Emakoko Primary School children being visited by the Chanuka Express mobile bus,” explains Anselm. “Its aim is to uplift young people through literacy and practical life skills education. Kitengela Hot Glass also funds monthly subscriptions to the Chanuka Express children’s newspaper.”
One local student, Dennis Mokua, graduated at the top of his class from Oloosirkon in December 2010. He scored 335 marks out of 500 which equates to a “B” average. Dennis’s ambition is to become a doctor, and Kitengela Hot Glass has paid his secondary school fees and expenses for 2011 in the hope that he will continue to thrive.
“What Dennis has achieved is very impressive,” Anselm comments, “especially when you consider the difficult learning environment at a poorly-funded school. In fact, Oloosirkon pupils depend on World Food Programme rations for lunch and must carry drinking water from their homes because our local river has become too polluted.”
In the Neighbourhood
Rolf Schmid, the owner/chef and managing director, has worked as an executive chef for major hotel chains all over the world. He has owned nine top restaurants in Kenya. Needless to say, his food rises to international standards. Meanwhile, Rolf’s Leopard Cliff Mansion, a boutique hotel situated on the same property, overlooks Nairobi National Park and is accessed by a suspension bridge that’s straight out of Indiana Jones.
