Efforts to provide healthcare, education, and vocational support in underserved communities are taking flight—literally. A new initiative aims to bridge corporate resources with humanitarian aid, creating a structured channel through which businesses can actively contribute to social development projects in Kenya. The programme, called the Business Partnership Program for Humanity, seeks to harness the logistics and operational strength of the airfreight sector to address pressing societal needs.
At its core, the initiative is about more than moving goods; it is about moving lives. “We want to improve lives together with you, with the cargo industry,” said Stefan Durr, Senior Director at Project LCCevolution at Lufthansa Cargo. “We have many private sponsors and donations from private people, families, etc., but we’re not so strong in the corporate environment. This is a great opportunity for corporations to engage in shared responsibility.”
Durr highlighted the potential for businesses to play an active role beyond traditional philanthropy. “We want to do this as a shared responsibility approach,” he explained. “You can use the services of Lufthansa Cargo, and you can also engage in commercial donations. Right now, we need computers shipped to Kenya. If your organisation can take care of that, it’s a very concrete way to help.”
From Orphanages to Vocational Training
The programme builds on years of groundwork in Nairobi, Kenya, where Cargo Human Care has been operating since 2007. Fokko Doyen, the founder of the NGO, described the origins of the organisation: “All our projects are in Kenya. The Mother’s Mercy Home, an orphanage in Nairobi, was a place where it all started more than 20 years ago. We began with the orphanage and a medical centre, and over time we’ve expanded into education and vocational training.”
The NGO now employs 26 local staff and has over 750 active members in Germany. More than 300 young people are supported through sponsorships and job training programmes, while the medical centre alone provided over 40,000 treatments last year for patients without the means to pay. “With 21 euros, you can take care of one person for one year,” Doyen explained. “Almost nobody in Kenya has health insurance, so this is vital. And our administration costs are just 0.3 percent. That means more than 99 cents of every euro goes directly to the people we serve.”
Projects span primary schools, high schools, vocational centres, and water supply initiatives, supporting thousands of individuals across Nairobi and northern Kenya. “This year, the money from our charity run will go towards building a school for girls in northern Kenya,” Doyen added. “Every year, the funds are allocated to a different project to ensure continuous, sustainable development.”
Corporate Social Responsibility
The Business Partnership Program for Humanity represents a formal invitation to corporations to engage with Cargo Human Care in a structured and scalable way. “We’ve created a programme that can be scaled from low to high engagement,” Durr said. “Bronze-level partners can sponsor ten medical treatments or a school project. Gold-level partners can engage in multiple projects, have their logos featured, and even have a dedicated partner manager to coordinate efforts.”
Durr emphasised the broader purpose of the initiative. “My daughter would never work for an airline without a social purpose. People today want to work for organisations that offer a sense of contribution. Through this partnership, we provide exactly that—a chance for companies to be socially responsible while engaging with meaningful projects.”
The programme offers flexibility: companies can select specific projects to support, sponsor educational or medical initiatives, or provide logistical assistance such as airfreight for essential equipment. “We are very creative,” Durr said. “There are many ways to get involved, whether through financial support, volunteering, or logistical contributions. Our goal is to make it easy for companies to have an impact.”
Scaling Impact
The logistical backbone of the airfreight industry plays a crucial role in the programme. Specially painted Lufthansa Cargo aircraft have been used to raise awareness, serving as ambassadors for the cause. “This is more than charity; it’s visibility and engagement,” Doyen said. “We’ve had planes painted with images of children from our orphanages, and they fly all over the world, symbolising hope and connection.”
Running the full spectrum of programmes currently requires US$680,000 annually. “To move all these projects, it is of course necessary to have donations,” Doyen noted. “Corporate partners can help us sustain and grow these initiatives, while benefiting from a structured Corporate Social Responsibility programme.”
