Leading the CSR Committee : Why CSR matters.

1.??????Briefly introduce yourself.

I am a Principal Associate in Anjarwalla & Khanna’s Real Estate and Construction department.??I am also the Chair of the CSR Committee at ALN Kenya.??

2.??????What motivated you to take up the additional role of leading the CSR team??

Honestly, at first, I wasn’t ready to take up the role of leading the Committee because it is no mean feat. Luckily, our Patron Rosa Nduati-Mutero and the members of the team encouraged me to take up the role and supported me all through my tenure. I am glad that ALN Kenya gives young people opportunities to take up leadership positions within the firm.?

Another reason I took up the role is because I feel it is my duty to play a positive role in society and to help the communities with who I co-exist. Being Chair of this great committee meant that I would have the opportunity to make a great impact. I enjoy mobilising people and planning events and I knew that these skills could be put to good use by leading from the front.?

3.??????What projects have you worked on that have stood out to you personally?

All the CSR projects we have worked on have had an impact on me in different ways. I shall only mention a few projects. Full disclosure, they all relate to children. I love children.??

Sometime last year, we visited Hope for Orphans Rescue Centre (HOREC) which is a shelter for children affected and infected by HIV/AIDS. When we went there for our visit, what stood out to me is how positive the children were, how happy they were despite the challenges they had faced in their young lives. It really challenged me to change my mindset because sometimes we can be so down on ourselves when we have so much to be grateful for.??

The second is the work we have been doing with Destiny Shapers Kenya . Even before I joined the firm, the firm had been partnering with the Non-Governmental Organisation that runs a school for vulnerable and orphaned children in the Korogocho slums in Nairobi City by providing a feeding scheme at KES 30 per pupil. I continue to be in awe of how much impact they make with KES 30. They remind me that everyone can give something and that we can all make a difference.??

Faraja Cancer Support Trust also gets an Honourable mention. They are so innovative in the ways they raise awareness about their causes and the activities they have put together. The white-water rafting event we participated in last year was very memorable. As the CSR Committee, we are encouraged to also be more innovative in the ways we go about our activities.????

4.??????Looking at the CSR reports over the years, it is clear that many of the staff that work at ALN Kenya are interested in working on CSR and Pro-Bono matters. Why do you think that is???

Internally, the firm encourages its staff to actively take on and participate in CSR projects. Employees who consistently and actively participate in the CSR initiatives are appreciated and recognised during our performance management process, and this ties into their appraisals. Their time, effort and financial/material support never goes unnoticed.

One approach that has increased the uptake of CSR matters by our staff is the emphasis that CSR work is just as valuable as other work, and the time spent on CSR matters is considered, in equal measure, to time spent on other work. This way, our people can see the value of CSR work and dedicate their time and resources to it just as they would other work. In 2021, we introduced awards for our champions who dedicate time and effort to CSR work to appreciate their efforts and dedication.

?The people at ALN Kenya are socially accountable to ourselves, our clients and the public. By practising CSR we are conscious of the kinds of impact we have on all aspects of society, including economic, social and environmental. In the ordinary course of business we aim to operate in ways that enhance society and the environment.??

5.??????Why do you think it is important that law firms begin to prioritise their impact (CSR/ Pro-Bono)??

We are living in difficult times, and it is important that every person and every corporation/ organisation do whatever it can within its sphere of influence to make the world just a little more bearable for other people.?

For lawyers, it is even more important that they make an impact because the practice of law is a service unto humanity. Lawyers are in a unique position to support people, groups, and organisations to further the public good.??