Procter & Gamble Kenya Hosts Team Kenya Mothers ahead of London 2012 Olympics Games.

By Eric Akasa

 Procter & gamble (P&G) Kenya, as part of its worldwide Olympic Partnership and its partnership with the National Olympic Committee-Kenya last week launched a campaign to celebrate Kenyan mothers.

The “Proud sponsor of Moms” campaign is aimed at celebrating all moms and especially those of the athletes who will be Kenya’s ambassadors during the forthcoming London 2012 Olympic Games, for the tremendous role they have played and continues to play in raising current and future generation of champions.

Hopefuls for the London 2012 Olympic Games 10,000m siblings Linet and Moses Masai together with iconic marathoner Catherine Ndereba will feature in P&G’s Proud Sponsor of Moms campaign, together with their moms.

 “We believe that behind every athlete is an even more amazing mom,” says Ms Adema Sangale, P&G Managing Director Eastern Africa during a dinner held in honour of the mothers of Team Kenya sportspersons. “We know how tough, but rewarding parenting can be, and it’s time to say thank you in a big way ,not just to the moms of Olympic athletes  but to every mom who does whatever it takes to make her child’s life the best it can be.

 Moms dedicate their lives to supporting and serving someone else and someone needs to support and serve them as well.” Adds Adema.

The campaign is the first of its kind in Kenya and will go beyond the achieving athletes and other celebrities to the mothers who brought them into the world and mentored them to become what they are today.

 It will also recognize sisters, aunts and grandmothers for the key role they continue to play in raising their children.

During the launch graced by the mothers of he recently selected team Kenya, Prime Minister, Hon. Raila Odinga recognized the tough job involved in raising the country’s future generations: “Kenya just like other African countries, motherhood extends beyond one’s biological child to the extended family, children within the community and to those in need. It is therefore commendable to see Corporates such as P&G bringing to the limelight and recognizing key forces that have played very significant roles in ensuring our Kenyan representatives at the world stage become world beaters” Points Out Odinga.

P&G is calling on everyone is Kenya to thank their Mama  that special female influence in their life  through the “Thank you, Mama!” movement. From today, Kenyans can upload their heartfelt message at www.thankyoumum.pg.co.ke to give their mothers the thanks that she deserves for everything she does.

 “It is not only thanking moms of athletes but all Kenyan ‘Mamas’ for their hard work in raising our future generations” observes Ms Adema Sangale.

Despite their hard work, some moms will not be there with their children at the Olympic games and in mitigating this fact, P&G chose this occasion to present the moms of Team Kenya with a “Thank you, Mama!” gift and also announced that it will be sending one Kenyan mom to the London Olympics to watch her child compete on the world stage.

For other moms, who will be in Kenya, P&G’s “Thank you, Mama!” gift will bring the London 2012 Olympic Games closer, enabling them to stay connected to their children through mobile cinema viewing of the competition and a gift of airtime in an effort to stay in touch.

 “I think that this is a really great initiative. I want to encourage all Kenyans to be grateful for everything that our moms have sacrificed for us.” Points out four-time Boston Marathon winner Catherine Ndereba . “ Most people don’t say thank you enough – if we can start by saying thank you and encourage others to do the same, the world will be a better place.” Ndereba adds.

P&G revealed that the company’s commitment is not limited to supporting Team Kenya and their moms during the London 2012, Olympic Games, but also to youth development through sports.

By buying leading P&G brands such as Pampers, Always, Gillette, Vicks, and Ariel, in May and June 2012, Kenyans will be extending a helping hand in support of investment in youth development through sport.

 P&G’s 1 pack = 1 contribution campaign will support sports programmes in schools across the country by having 1sh in every pack bought channeled towards this noble initiative.

According to Adema, P&G is in the business of helping moms with products that help them provide the best for their kids. “We are using our brands to say thank you to moms for everything they do, and also to invest in something that matters,” adds Adema.

“Supporting sports in schools is not only about developing the next generation of champions, but it is about physical development and acquiring important life skills such as team work and discipline. The company is supporting families and is helping to develop athletes every day. This aligns perfectly with the Olympic values,” concludes Adema.