SCI is thrilled to announce its first coorporate sponsor

Kemp Little LLP has chosen the Schistosomiasis Control Initiative (SCI), a group at Imperial College London dedicated to eliminating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), as its charity of the year for 2012

Friday 27 January 2012

The Schistosomiasis Control Initiative (SCI), Imperial College London, has been chosen as charity of the year by London based law firm Kemp Little. 

SCI is dedicated to eliminating a group of parasitic diseases collectively known as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).  These chronic diseases affect almost a billion of the poorest people in the world. They are commonly contracted during childhood and affect the poorest communities, leading to deeper poverty. Infected children grow up with little education, into a severely disabled adulthood and struggle to afford food and basic services. They have few positive prospects for the future.

SCI uses donated funds to bring treatments for parasitic diseases to these children in Africa, clearing the children of their worm infections and protecting them from serious disfigurements and disabilities in later life. After treatment their nutritional status is improved, they grow stronger and can enjoy a better quality of life. 

SCI runs large scale programmes in 10 countries in Africa with funding from the UK government, and several private donors. However we need to reach out to new countries. SCI is thrilled that Kemp Little, with its fund raising for SCI, will be playing a part in ensuring real progress is made towards the World Health Organisation’s aim of eliminating these diseases entirely.  SCI is one of the top two international charities recommended by www.givewell.org in the USA.

Kemp Little has set its sights high and its first target is to raise £20,000 during 2012 to fund the treatment of 40,000 children in Uganda. 

Kathryn Dooks, Senior Associate and head of Kemp Little’s Charity Committee, said:  “Kemp Little is pleased to be able to support such an effective charity and are proud to be its first corporate sponsor. The charity was chosen in a vote by all the staff in the firm as the one we all wished to support and staff were moved by the difference the charity can make to some of the poorest people in the world. We hope to help SCI to establish a corporate fundraising programme through 2013 and beyond, to continue the progress made by Kemp Little’s support and fundraising in 2012. We look forward to working closely and fundraising with them.”

Prof. Alan Fenwick O.B.E. and Director of SCI stated: “SCI is thrilled that Kemp Little will be playing a part in ensuring real progress is made towards the World Health Organisation’s aim of eliminating these diseases entirely.  We are making great progress, but we still have only 40% of the funds we need to meet these goals and need more support.”

You can find out more about SCI and NTDs on their website www.sci-ntds.org.

If you would like to find out more about Kemp Little visit their website: www.kemplittle.com.