Boeing and Kenya Airways took advantage of the airline’s latest delivery of a Next-Generation 737-800 last Thursday to transport 111 boxes of legal textbooks weighing over 3,400 pounds to Nairobi.
Seattle – A small ceremony was held at Boeing Field to commemorate the loading of the last pallets of books onto Kenya Airways‘ newest Boeing jet that departed today.
Seattle University School of Law led the donation program through an affiliate group of legal-writing professors who have taught in Africa. The group, Academics Promoting the Pedagogy of Effective Advocacy in Law (APPEAL), organized a national book drive that was supported by some 25 law schools across the United States. After arrival in Nairobi, the books will be distributed in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Malawi and Zambia.
Boeing and Kenya Airways handled the logistical details of transporting the books to Africa free of charge after being contacted by Seattle University Law Professor Anne Enquist, who sits on APPEAL’s book committee.
„A number of U.S. law schools have essentially managed to send a small library of law books to Africa,“ Professor Enquist said. „It’s very generous for Kenya Airways to add thousands of pounds of weight to its airplane and we’re thankful to Boeing for its help in coordinating logistics.“
Boeing and Kenya Airways have partnered on a number of projects related to enhancing education and training in East Africa. Boeing has contributed to new school construction in Kenya, conducted children’s book drives and maintains an annual sponsorship of five Nairobi-area schools. Last year, Boeing and Kenya Airways jointly opened The Pride Centre, a training and leadership facility located outside Nairobi.
„We applaud Kenya Airways and this dedicated group of Seattle University law professors for leading this effort, and we’re happy to have played a supporting role,“ said Marty Bentrott, vice president of Sales for The Middle East and Africa. „Part of our strong record of success with airlines throughout Africa is built on mutual trust and a commitment to actively pursue projects that bring real benefit in the countries where we do business.“
Photo: Boeing
