Developer Arada and The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) have launched the ‘Home for a Home’ initiative to provide secure and sanitary homes for refugee families in the Kalobeyei settlement in Kenya. The programme, which is billed as the first-of-its-kind, will see both entities build a home for a vulnerable family in Kenya for every home that is sold in Arada’s Masaar master community during Ramadan.
According to a statement, the initiative is part of the recently launched partnership between Arada with The Big Heart Foundation, and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), which also includes the development of much-needed water infrastructure to support up to 43,000 people.
The homes will be managed by the UNHCR in collaboration with local authorities. The design of the homes is standardised by the UNHCR; the campaign is expected to result in providing secure and sanitary homes for nearly 2,000 refugees. In addition, the initiative will also cover the cost of implementing a sustainable water supply system that will provide 100,000 litres of water a week to both refugees and the host community living in the surrounding area, the statement noted.
“This cooperation is a most significant and distinguished humanitarian initiative, through which sustainable housing and clean water will be provided to families who are among the most needy and suffering in the world. We are pleased with this partnership with the UNHCR, which will invest in humanitarian initiatives and projects that will have a positive impact on the lives of refugees in Kenya, mirroring the humanitarian values and principles of the UAE community, including all its citizens and residents in order to help refugees and those in need around the world,” said Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Humanitarian Envoy of the Big Heart Foundation and chairman of Arada.
Individuals who buy a home at Arada’s Masaar community during the month of giving will be allocated a home that will be built on their behalf in Kalobeyei, and will receive updates about construction progress at the Kenyan home, the statement pointed out.
HRH Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal, vice chairman of Arada added, “This initiative reflects Arada’s strongly held belief that successful private-sector companies have a duty to act in dynamic ways to solve global challenges. Our partnership with TBHF and UNHCR is all about providing lasting and sustainable impact for the people who need it most. Our goal is to enable the future economic empowerment of hundreds of families, providing them with a steppingstone to lead fulfilling and positive lives in the future.”
Developed on the requirement for a different and more sustainable approach to refugee assistance programming in Kenya, the overall objective of the Kalobeyei settlement is to improve socio-economic conditions of both the refugees and the host community, the statement noted.
The settlement is being developed as an urban centre, using the same planning techniques for standard cities, allowing both refugees and the host community to benefit from a series of measures, including investment in basic infrastructure and access to social services and increased opportunities for income-generating activities. With both refugees and the host community playing an increased role in prioritising needs, budget decision-making and monitoring the implementation of projects, the aim is to improve social cohesion between both communities, the statement concluded.