In more feel-good news on the African continent, Hilton is committing over $120k to support three organisations driving COVID-19 recovery efforts in local communities through its annual Hilton Effect Foundation grants.
“A core part of the Hilton Effect Foundation’s work is to support our communities around the world through both good times and bad,” says Kate Mikesell, President, Hilton Effect Foundation.
“From the very start of the pandemic, we have been listening to community leaders in Africa and around the globe about the direct and indirect challenges they are facing as a result of COVID-19. As part of our global selection process, we have used this feedback to identify three African based partners to support with grants totaling over $120k, all of whom work to strengthen community resiliency and who have a strong understanding of the unique challenges facing the African continent.”
The global hospitality company is backing three projects which will provide urgently needed provisions of food, sanitary products and economic opportunities to those in need across the continent:
- Eco-Soap Bank is combatting COVID-19 on a global scale by empowering women to rescue and recycle millions of bars of soap from factories and hotels that would otherwise be sent to landfills. The soap is recycled and distributed to local at-risk communities along with hygiene education and handwashing training. Hilton, which has committed to sending zero soap to landfill by 2030, will fund the expansion of this programme in five markets across Africa (South Africa, Rwanda, Tanzania, Eswatini and Sierra Leone).
- Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) aims to deliver curriculum-support services and nutritious meal options to school students and teachers most affected by the COVID-19 lockdown. In partnership with Hilton, its WESSA on Wheels project will focus on those schools that are located within 30km around each of the 5 WESSA Education Centres in rural areas of Kwazulu-Natal, Limpopo and The Northern Cape.
- ACE Charity in Nigeria runs programmes to empower women and help them gain access to the market. Hilton’s grant will support a branch of the Business Women Empowerment scheme that has already been running at Transcorp Hilton Abuja to create economic opportunities in the community by investing in skills and capabilities. With the grant, ACE will be able to provide life-line economic support to local female-owned small businesses to help them navigate economic challenges arising from the pandemic.
Have a feel-good story you’d like to submit as part of our #UnlockAfrica campaign? Email: chelsey@bigambitions.co.za or WhatsApp: 061 354 3286