BENEVOLENT FUND HISTORY
In 1997 an elderly caddy was knocked down by a hit-and-run vehicle on Ngong Road and his leg was badly broken. Some of the other caddies asked Cilla White to help, who arranged admission for him at PCEA Kikuyu Hospital. However as the injury was complex, he also needed surgery at the Aga Khan Hospital, where Cilla was working at the time and was able to get him assistance. This elderly man turned out to have no living relatives at all in the world – he thought he once might have had a cousin in Loitokitok, but didn’t know if he was still there or even still alive. Fortunately the Whites had a spare staff quarter at their house, and he came there to recuperate. To the credit of the surgeons, he was able to walk again after extensive treatment, and eventually even to work again as a caddy. He passed away some years later.
This incident highlighted the precarious lives of the caddies, often threatened by incidents in which their very low and variable income left them unable to cope, and which brought disaster and even death to themselves and their families. Thus, from a proposal made to the Club by Mr Isaac Awuondo, Cilla White and Jackie Ayton, the Karen Club Benevolent Fund was formally launched in 2000 with Mr Isaac Awuondo as the first Chairman. The fund’s income was to come from the annual Charity Golf voluntary donations and additional donations from members.
From then on the Fund committee considered applications received from caddies or the lowest paid staff members for assistance with medical or other major problems or disasters, and was able to assist with many of these. One of the biggest problems tackled was in 2006, when golf Starter Duncan Mbugua, not yet 40 years old, suffered from kidney failure which threatened his life and also the welfare of his wife and two young sons. Medical assistance was sought and it seemed that Duncan would be a good candidate for a kidney transplant; his family was very supportive, raising funds for his treatment, and willing to donate kidneys if compatible. By good fortune the brother’s kidney was compatible and the operation was successfully carried out at Nairobi Hospital in 2007 by member Dr Robin Mogere. Club members were extremely generous with donations, and the balance needed was made up from the Charity Golf Day funds. Since that time the Fund has also continued to assist Duncan with anti-rejection medication, which will continue to be necessary for his lifetime.
The Fund committee now also started to look into ways to improve the precarious lives of the caddies, who can never be sure of work and are at risk of great suffering when bad weather (whether flood, drought or just a holiday period) means few golfers on the course. From 2006 the Fund therefore began assistance with secondary school fees for the children of caddies, and later extended eligibility to lower-paid employed staff members. The fund committee felt that these families would have a more secure future if at least some of their children could complete secondary school, without which otherwise the cycle of poverty would never be broken. Since then the Fund has assisted well over 100 children. The policy is that a child once accepted on to the scheme is supported until leaving school. This applies regardless of grades achieved, on the principle that it is better that children complete secondary school rather than dropping out early.
From mid 2008 to 2009 many months of dry weather resulted in less golf being played, and many caddies and their families were close to starvation. Members Joe Karago, Isaac Awuondo, and Jimmy Kimondo generously donated food packages to the caddies at this crisis time, as also did the Benevolent Fund.
A new dimension was added to the Benevolent Fund scheme when Dr Helmut Danner was instrumental in setting up a micro-savings scheme with the assistance of Madison Insurance Ltd through committee member Mr James Wainaina. The idea was to encourage caddies to make some provision for their own future by paying a small sum into the scheme on a regular monthly basis. The scheme provides for a funeral and surviving family benefit in the event of a caddy death, and the building up of a retirement savings fund by the very small but regular contributions. Many insurance companies would not find such a scheme attractive, and the innovative support of Madison Insurance has been invaluable.
The income to the Benevolent Fund, originally solely from the Charity Golf Day, was further secured when it was agreed that an annual special levy would be made on all golf members. At present this stands at 500/- per golf member. A regular annual donation from the Charity Golf Day also helps to secure funding for these poorer members of the Club community.
Karen Country Club has, we believe, been a leader among golf clubs in its policy of assistance towards the least privileged of the club community. Members can be proud that they have helped many families to feel there is a better future ahead when their children are able to complete secondary education; and also that caddies and the lowest paid staff can feel that they are not alone when some medical disaster strikes. Further, the savings scheme initiated by Dr Helmut Danner is helping to establish a culture of making regular savings, and so bringing to the caddies some pride in being able to build up a fund of their own to make some provision for the future of their families. These schemes form an important part of the club’s corporate social responsibility commitment.