The world’s leading stationery manufacturing company, BIC, celebrated hitting a target of one million pen donations to underprivileged students in Kenya. 

The donations were made as part of the 'Buy Me and BIC Will Donate a Pen' campaign, which was launched in 2020 and aimed to provide students with the necessary writing tools in the classroom. 

The campaign is in line with BIC’s commitment to improving learning conditions for 250 million students by the year 2025. 

BIC has donated one pen to students in Kenya for every stationery item bought in the country over the past three years, and select partners across the country have supported the cause. 

BIC East Africa collaborated with CFK Africa this year to distribute 300,000 pens to over 150,000 students in Kibera, as well as 24 additional informal settlements in Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado, Nakuru, Mombasa, Kilifi, Kiambu and Kisumu counties.

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Mary Ndiba and Salome Ngugi. PHOTO/COURTESY

The donations were made at a handover event held at the CFK Africa offices in Nairobi in the presence of company representatives and BIC spokespeople.  

BIC East Africa Marketing Manager Salome Ngugi in her speech during the function noted that lack of resources is one among major challenges the education sector in the country faces.

Ngugi said they aim to provide the students with the opportunity to succeed and realise their potentials.

“One of the major challenges faced in the education space in the country is the lack of resources. Through this partnership with like-minded organization, CFK Africa, we aim to provide students with the necessary tools to succeed and empower them to reach their full potential.,” Ngugi said.

The Interim Executive Director for CFK Africa Mary Ndiba said CFK believes education is the only equaliser that can be offered to children from various backgrounds to secure a bright future.

While expressing their pride in the partnership with BIC East Africa, Ndiba noted through various approaches, they have equipped students in several ways supported quality education in informal settlements.

“Talent is universal, opportunity is not! We at CFK Africa believe that education is the only true equalizer that can be offered to children from diverse backgrounds to secure a brighter future,’ Ndubi said.

“For the last 20 years, we have invested in access to quality education in informal settlements using a multifaceted approach to equip students not only with resources and finances, but to develop character and leadership skills as well. We are very proud to partner with BIC East Africa in the advancement of our cause.”

In 2022, BIC East Africa partnered with Save the Children to donate school supplies to over 290,000 students.

The company is committed to education and supporting the communities in which it operates. 

The 'Buy Me and BIC Will Donate a Pen' campaign is one of the many education-driven initiatives run by the company. 

In 2022, BIC launched the first roundtable on education, EduTalk, where private and public sector representatives came together to discuss challenges and opportunities in the education sector in Kenya.