Three Dutch-owned horticulture farms have teamed-up to engage in corporate-social-responsibility mantra in Koka. The three Dutch farms: the Florensis Ethiopia, Syngenta and Dummen Orange have teamed up to help complement the work of the Social & Environmental development organization (SAEDO) which was established in 2014 as a local strategy to reduce poverty in the area by the said companies.
The OVC Center (Orphan Vulnerable Children) is to be equipped with a library, ICT room, a clinic and classes costing a total of 1.7 million Birr. The center is fully supported by Florensis owners and from family funds, as a legacy project for the company; now operational in a number of nations for more than 75 years.
“We are very proud that as a company, we can do something special for the community,” Rianne Hamer of Florensis said. “We know the vulnerability of the community and the value of such a facility, as a mother and a person that values the values of corporate responsibility. With this center we can give this children protection, education, attention and a lot of love.”
The new center is expected to benefit about 133 students and have affordable meals, housing, basic medication and above all, access to education.
Bengt van Loosdrecht, the Netherlands ambassador to Ethiopia echoed the sentiments of the farmers and the community stating that “This is a partnership that has grown, despite the difficult times experienced by farmers in 2015. “But such an arrangement is how the community and farmers can co-exist and flourish together.”
The school was inaugurated in the presence of the regional administration district representatives.
