30 September 2026 | Nairobi, Kenya
"Sometimes, giving is about more than what we carry in our hands. Sometimes, it is about what we carry in our hearts."
The Kenya China Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCCI) took its quarterly charity initiative to the Kenya Women & Children’s Wellness Centre (KWCWC) — arriving with a truck-load of Dignity and Love.
The visit was part of “45 Beds of Dignity,” a KCCCI charity campaign created after the Chamber visited KWCWC and saw the 45 beds at the shelter, many of which needed proper mattresses and bedding. The campaign was born from one simple question: What can we do?
The answer was 45 Beds of Dignity.
The KCCCI delegation was warmly received by the KWCWC team led by Ms. Irene Atim, Operations Manager, on behalf of Founder and President Madam Deloris Jordan.
The team began the visit in the boardroom with introductions and a briefing on KWCWC’s work and programmes. Ms. Atim and the KWCWC team took the delegation through the Centre’s initiatives aimed at providing holistic care and recovery for survivors of Gender-Based Violence, while Programs Director Ms. Pauline Gathanga shared the organisation’s impact across its programmes since its establishment in 2010.
Planting the Chamber Tree
Before proceeding with the facility tour, KCCCI Chairman Mr. Tim Chen, CEO Dr. Blak Aende, and Ms. Irene Atim joined hands for a symbolic tree-planting ceremony.
The tree was named “The Chamber Tree.”
KCCCI Chairman-Mr. Tim Chen, CEO-Dr. Blak Aende and Mrs. Irene Atim planting the Chamber Tree
It was more than a tree. It represented the beginning of a partnership that both organisations hope will grow, deepen its roots, provide shade to Survivors and produce lasting impact for the community. As Ms. Atim noted in her remarks, the tree should remain a symbol of the many collaborations that can grow from this relationship.
The KCCCI team was then taken on a tour of the KWCWC facility, gaining a deeper understanding of the Centre’s work and the services available to survivors and children. The tour culminated in a powerful engagement with GBV survivors — an opportunity for members to interact, listen and appreciate the human stories behind the work of KWCWC.
KWCWC has positioned itself as a place of safety, healing and restoration. Its work goes beyond providing shelter. The Centre supports survivors through skills empowerment and rehabilitation programmes, including beauty training, nail art, hospitality and tailoring, helping survivors acquire practical skills that can support their journey towards independence and economic empowerment.
The Centre also operates a medical facility and has a bold vision to construct a 234-bed multi-speciality hospital, expanding access to comprehensive healthcare services for the community. Its work reflects a holistic approach to recovery — addressing not only immediate safety, but also health, skills, dignity and the possibility of a new beginning.
A Testament to Partnerships
Speaking on behalf of Madam Jordan, Ms. Irene Atim expressed KWCWC’s deep appreciation to KCCCI, describing the Centre as “a testament to partnerships.”
She emphasised that the donation was more than a financial gesture — it was a demonstration of trust, recognition and a willingness to walk alongside KWCWC in improving the lives of male and female survivors of GBV. She challenged KCCCI to remain engaged beyond the day's donation, highlighting future areas of collaboration including the construction of the Centre’s boundary wall, equipping the maternity and theatre facilities, medical camps, GBV awareness forums and support for beneficiaries in need of holistic recovery services.
Remarks by KCCCI Chairman Mr. Tim Chen
KCCCI Chairman Mr. Tim Chen
KCCCI Chairman Mr. Tim Chen reminded guests that the occasion was not simply about business or economic statistics, but about human dignity, shared values and the responsibility to care for one another. He described the beds and mattresses as more than physical items — calling them places of rest, recovery and safety for mothers and children seeking refuge. He reaffirmed KCCCI’s commitment to corporate citizenship and to building deeper roots within the communities where its members live and work.
The Chairman also emphasised that giving should not be a one-time gesture, but a long-term commitment to walking alongside communities. For KCCCI, the initiative forms part of its wider social responsibility journey and its belief in strengthening the bridge of friendship, compassion and shared prosperity between Kenya and China.
Remarks by KCCCI CEO Dr. Blak Aende
KCCCI CEO Dr. Blak Aende
In his remarks, KCCCI CEO Dr. Blak Aende described the visit as more than a charity event. It was the beginning of what he hopes will become a lasting partnership between KCCCI and KWCWC.
He spoke about the reality of GBV and the responsibility of society to help restore safety, dignity, hope and belonging to survivors. He stressed that KCCCI does not want to be an organisation that simply makes a donation, takes photographs and leaves. Instead, the Chamber wants to walk the journey with KWCWC, mobilise its members, businesses, corporates, professionals and development partners, and contribute its networks, expertise and resources where they can make a difference.
His message was simple: "No single institution can solve GBV alone. It will take all of us."
The Handover: 45 Beds of Dignity
The highlight of the day was the official handover of KCCCI’s contribution to the KWCWC Shelter under the 45 Beds of Dignity campaign. KCCCI handed over mattresses and duvets, alongside vanity kits and food items, to support the women and children staying at the Centre.
The contribution was made possible through the generosity and participation of KCCCI members, partners and friends who responded to the call to give. Some gave generously, others gave what they could, but every contribution carried the same message:
You are not alone.
You matter.
You deserve dignity.
You deserve a safe place to begin again.
As Ms. Atim aptly said, “KWCWC is a testament to partnerships.”
Official handover of 45 Beds of Dignity mattresses, duvets, and supplies
The 45 Beds of Dignity Campaign is Not the End. It is a Beginning.
KCCCI calls upon corporates, businesses, individuals, foundations, development partners, professional organisations and the Government to join hands with KWCWC in the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Violence Against Children (VAC).
There is a need for sustainable partnerships — not only emergency donations. Shelter requires resources. Survivors need counselling, healthcare, skills and economic empowerment. Children need protection and care. Facilities need investment. Organisations like KWCWC need partners willing to walk with them for the long haul.
Let us bring together resources, skills, technology, financing, professional services, employment opportunities and compassion. Let us move from occasional giving to meaningful partnership. Let us build programmes that last. And let us collectively wage a stronger, more coordinated war against GBV and VAC.
As the KCCCI delegation left KWCWC, the day was about much more than the mattresses, duvets and food items left behind. It was about a relationship that had been strengthened. It was about a tree planted in the ground. It was about survivors who were reminded that they are not alone.
It was about two institutions choosing to walk together.
Learn more about the Kenya Women & Children’s Wellness Centre and how to support their vital mission:
Visit KWCWC Website →Event Highlights
