Empowering Futures: Del Monte Kenya's commitment to accessible education and workforce development

“Today is our graduation day,” one child excitedly told a friend.

Adorned with their graduation gowns, the faces of 19 Early child hood education (ECD)students beamed with joy as they waited to hear their names called out – a sign they had now transitioned to Grade One.

This was the atmosphere at the 2024 ECD graduation ceremony held at the Del Monte Kenya Limited grounds in Thika. The graduates, who are children of Del Monte Kenya Limited workers, were proudly cheered on by their parents, teachers and invited guests from the Del Monte community.

Teacher Lilian Atieno explained that all school-going children living on Del Monte’s vast property are entitled to early childhood education at the facility at no cost.

“Any child whose parent works at Del Monte is guaranteed to receive an education free of charge. It is worth noting that we have eight schools offering three levels of education located in different estates within the property,” she said.

Teacher Atieno emphasized that the schools, through support from Del Monte Kenya, are working to ensure that both boys and girls have access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education, preparing them for primary education.

The 19 children now join an ever-growing list of over 12,000 students who have benefited from the schools supported by Del Monte Kenya in the last ten years.

Kevin Ndwiga, an engineering foreman at Del Monte Kenya, is one of the parents whose child has benefited from the education programme.

“This is the first graduation, and I would confidently say that it was a success. Having schools within the property was very thoughtful. It helps that education for all pre-school children is provided at no cost,” said Ndwiga.

“As a parent I would like to thank Del Monte Kenya for supporting and walking with us through this journey, and supporting our children’s education,” he added.

Del Monte Kenya values education and has made significant investments to improve access to primary and secondary education.

The company has helped establish three primary schools and eight nursery schools that provide early childhood education. In 2010, Del Monte Kenya opened its own Del Monte Mixed Secondary School, located on one of the company’s farms, and the first community school in Mitubiri Ward in Murang’a County.

The company’s commitment towards education aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) on Quality Education which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promotion of lifelong learning opportunities for all. 

This commitment is in recognition of the critical role of education in Africa, which still grapples with low investment and access to formal education for many children. These challenges negatively impact the continent’s social and economic development.

However, if effectively harnessed, education can unlock numerous opportunities and contribute towards empowering the continent to leapfrog its development, enabling it to achieve the status of developed countries and lift millions of people out of poverty.

By making education accessible to as many students as possible, Del Monte Kenya helps those individuals achieve their dreams by equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities needed to succeed.

The company also supports Kenya by developing a skilled workforce, which is essential for enhancing the country’s competitiveness in the global marketplace and fostering sustainable growth.