Sharjah-headquartered property developer Arada and the UAE-based global humanitarian organisation The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) – in partnership with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) – have launched the ‘Home for a Home’ initiative to provide secure and sanitary homes for hundreds of refugee families in the Kalobeyei settlement in northern Kenya.
The first-of-its kind programme will see the entities build a home for a vulnerable family in Kenya for every home that is sold in Arada’s Masaar master community during Ramadan.
Individuals who buy a home at Arada’s Masaar community in Sharjah during the month of giving will also 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 design of the homes is standardised by the UNHCR, and the campaign is expected to provide secure and sanitary homes for approximately 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, offering much-needed water infrastructure to support up to 43,000 people.
The humanitarian envoy of the Big Heart Foundation and chairman of Arada, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, said: “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.”
He added: “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.”
The vice chairman of Arada, Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal, said: “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.”
The Kalobeyei settlement in northern Kenya
Arada’s partners for the campaign are THBF, which was founded in 2015 to protect and empower vulnerable children and their families in disadvantageous situations around the world.
The UNHCR is a global organisation that is dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights, and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people.
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 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, 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.
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