22nd January 2022: RUBiS Energy Kenya has sponsored the GirlsRun marathon, an initiative supporting menstrual hygiene, in partnership with Women Development Centre (WODEC) and Kenya Community Sports Foundation (KESOFO).
This is in preparations of the GirlsRun Marathon that will be taking place in October this year.
The GirlsRun initiative seeks to support the Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) program run by the Women Development Centre (WODEC) which supports girls through this stage of life and locally produces reusable sanitary pad kits.
RUBiS Energy Kenya Group Managing Director Mr. Jean-Christian Bergeron said social initiatives are a key component of RUBiS Energy’s commitment to being a responsible company that brings positive impact to the community.
“The GirlsRun gives us the opportunity to promote health, education and physical activity as a catalyst to raise awareness and support around the issue of girls health and wellbeing. Our focus on menstrual hygiene and period poverty initiatives through the donation of the reusable sanitary pad kits, will help the girls access the products they need and boost their confidence while uplifting women’s groups and the local economy in an environmentally conscious manner,” said Mr. Bergeron.
Speaking during the event, the Women Development Centre Director, Milkah Cherotich said “We are pleased to partner with RUBiS to support girls stay in school and reach their potential. Through their funding, we have been able to host sessions on Menstrual Hygiene Management, produce and distribute washable sanitary pads to the hard-to-reach girl populations in Kenya.”
The event was attended by over 600 participants comprising girls from select schools in the area and various athletes from the region. The athletes included Caroline Jepchirchir winner of Belfast and Edinburgh Marathon, Sarah Lagat – Champion – TrailRun Spain 2021 and Lynn Chebet among others. The initiative targets to distribute 1500 reusable sanitary pad kits to school-going girls in Elgeyo- Marakwet County.
“We are extremely grateful to RUBiS for trusting us to organize this sports event aimed at overcoming ‘period shame’ by providing vulnerable girls with sanitary towels and information about menstrual management. We are also very proud to see that sport is being used as an avenue to raise awareness on key issues affecting our communities”, said Wesley Chirchir, CEO of Kenya Community Sports Foundation.
RUBiS Energy Kenya plays an active role in corporate social responsibility activities themed around education, health, safety, and environment. The oil marketer has most recently supported initiatives in areas of social integration and improvement of livelihoods through partnership with the Kibera Black Stars Association, and in education through the RUBiS Energy Kenya Education Scholarship Fund.
About RUBiS
Founded in 1990, RUBiS is an independent French operator specializing in three business areas: distribution of petroleum products, support and services, and storage.
The distribution of petroleum products includes service station networks, commercial fuel, aviation fuel, LPG, lubricants, and bitumen. Storage through RUBiS Terminal provides storage of petroleum, chemical and agri‐food products.
RUBiS is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange (Euronext Paris) with a market capitalization of 5.5 billion Euros at the end of 2019. With a revenue of 5.2 billion Euros in 2019, and a bulk storage capacity of 3.6 million m3, RUBiS distributed 5.5 million m3 of fuels in 2019 and is recognized in the market for its expertise and quality of service.
RUBiS occupies a strong position in more than 40 countries across three continents: Europe, Africa and the Caribbean.
About RUBiS Energy Kenya
RUBiS acquired Kenol Kobil Plc in March 2019 and Gulf Energy Holdings Ltd in December 2019. RUBiS Energy Kenya, with a network of over 230 service stations countrywide under Gulf Energy, Kenol Kobil and RUBiS brands, is one of the leading players in Kenya.
RUBiS Energy Kenya business units include Retail, Lubricants, LPG, Trading, Supply, Aviation, Commercial & Industrial and Exports to various East African countries. RUBiS Energy Kenya has subsidiaries in Burundi, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia.
ABOUT WODEC AND KESOFO
- Women Development Centre East Africa (WODEC) makes reusable sanitary pads which are sustainably and locally produced, creating jobs for the women groups and communities. WODEC are recognized as an enterprise affiliated to the Days for Girls www.daysforgirls.org and GirlsRunPeriod (GRP), a Canadian NGO established specifically to address period poverty at a global level https://girlsrunperiod.org/
- Kenya Community Sports Foundation (KESOFO) is a sporting organization led by sportsmen/women in Kenya, with the goal of delivering programs of sport for health and social cohesion, specifically targeted at children and the youth.
