RUBiS Energy Kenya has partnered with GirlsRunPeriod, a Canadian NGO addressing global period poverty, and Women Development Centre (WODEC) to host the GirlsRun event for a second year. The run aims to promote girls’ health, wellbeing, and women’s economic opportunities to end period poverty across Kenya.
The run held in Kapsisiywa, Nandi County, brought together over 3,000 girls from local schools who benefitted from the distribution of Sanikits and provision of menstrual health education.
RUBiS Energy Kenya Group Managing Director Mr. Jean-Christian Bergeron said that a key component of their commitment to being a responsible company is to bring positive impact to the community.
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“The GirlsRun initiative seeks to raise awareness on period poverty and menstrual health. Through the provision of menstrual hygiene management and distribution of Sanikits, we support the girls physical, mental, and social well-being while using sport as an avenue to promote this agenda. Furthermore, the run offers an opportunity to support local economy through the industrious women’s groups producing the environmentally conscious reusable Sanikits in the community.”
Partners in the RUBiS GirlsRun include GirlsRun Period, Women Development Centre East Africa (WODEC), Athletics Kenya and the Nandi County Government. The Kapsisiywa event was a follow-up of the inaugural RUBiS GirlsRun held in Iten in January 2022.
Speaking during the event, GirlsRunPeriod Founder, Susan Namulindwa said
“Girls and young women continuously face challenges in menstrual health. By bringing together different partners and empowering the women within the communities to educate and support these girls, we uplift more than just the community; we uplift the whole nation.”
The RUBiS GirlsRun Kapsisiywa event held a variety of races ranging from 500m to 8km runs for girls aged 5 years and over. Veteran athletes, Eliud Kipchoge and Wesley Korir – CAS Sports, Art and Gender, also took part in the event that was attended by over 6,000 participants comprising girls from schools in the area, various athletes from the region, sponsors, guests and representatives from the Nandi County Government.
RUBiS Energy Kenya plays an active role in corporate social responsibility activities themed around education, health, safety and environment. The oil marketer has supported initiatives in areas of social integration and improvement of livelihoods through partnerships with the Kibera Black Stars Association, in education through the RUBiS Energy Kenya Education Scholarship Fund and the Ajuma Foundation, and in health through Faraja Cancer Trust and the Cerebral Palsy Society of Kenya.