Standard Chartered Bank, in collaboration with Catholic Relief Services (CRS), extended a lifeline of Sh7 million to the flood-stricken communities of Mathare and Embakasi on Friday.

The cheque handover ceremony, held at Mathare Vocational Training Centre on Juja Road, Nairobi, marked the launch of a multifaceted relief initiative to rebuild lives and foster economic resilience among the affected populations.

The funds will provide direct cash transfers to vulnerable households, with a strong emphasis on empowering the youth to recover and rebuild.

Beyond financial support, over 200 residents received essential food and non-food items, offering immediate relief to families whose livelihoods have been uprooted by the catastrophic floods.

In a show of long-term commitment, the event also featured a tree-planting exercise and discussions on critical topics such as financial literacy, mental health, and waste recycling as a source of income.

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These activities aim to provide affected families with tools not only to survive but to thrive.

Angela Muathe, CRS Kenya and Somalia’s Communications Manager, underscored the significance of the collaboration.

"CRS Kenya empowers communities affected by crises by providing immediate relief and long-term development assistance to ensure sustainability," Muathe stated.

"We are excited about this partnership with Standard Chartered as we invest in the promising futures of young people in alignment to the Government of Kenya’s education and training plan within the social pillar of Vision 2030.”

The funds will be channelled through CRS’ Wezesha Vijana programme, a transformative initiative designed to equip young people with market-driven skills and investment opportunities.

These resources are intended to help participants secure stable employment or start sustainable businesses, setting them on a path to self-reliance and economic prosperity.

Standard Chartered Bank reaffirmed its commitment to empowering the next generation.

Joyce Kibe, the bank’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing for Kenya and Africa, explained the broader impact of their global initiatives.

“We are delighted to partner with CRS Kenya in supporting youth. Globally, 282 million young people are not in education, training or employment.

"Futuremakers by Standard Chartered is our global youth economic empowerment initiative, supporting young people, especially women and people with disabilities, to learn, earn and grow," Kibe remarked.

Today, we have offered financial literacy skills to youth as a way of equipping them with knowledge to improving their economic participation. This donation will further support youth with much needed skills to navigate the unemployment challenge," she added.

By blending emergency response with developmental initiatives, the collaboration between Standard Chartered and CRS delivers hope and opportunity to flood-affected households.

It serves as a beacon for restoring livelihoods, empowering the youth, and fostering resilience against future challenges.