Partners

One of the key drivers of our success is the partner model we have put in place. In everything we do, we work in partnership with fantastic people and organisations in Kenya and in the UK, achieving huge amounts of synergy.

We have seen in many cases that by bringing the right people together from all sorts of walks of life such as entrepreneurs, marketeers, artists, fashion industry, celebrities and designers you can make some very special things happen!

The Foundation Board

The Sumerian Foundation is comprised of five Scottish companies. In each of these partner companies there is a bunch of very enthusiastic people who provide key support to the business models, marketing and investment for our social enterprises in Kenya. Each partner organisation is represented on the board by the following very successful entrepreneurs and their respective companies:

Long term partners - Seed of Hope and Johari Programme

The Sumerian Foundation has long standing, strong ties with the following two charities:

Kate MacAskill Foundation

The Sumerian Foundation finds it roots in this Foundation which is run by Catriona Sibbald. Catriona is a remarkable woman who has the biggest warmest heart and has supported many vulnerable children and people around the world. The Kate MacAskill Foundation has been a key donor to the Sumerian Foundation over the years and we work very successfully together on several of our programmes.

Vision Africa

Vision Africa has established a range of successful support programmes in Kenya and has been a long term partner of the Sumerian Foundation. One of the key areas of partnership are the Seed of Hope Centres. Vision Africa established the Seed of Hope Centers in 2002 and has been working together with the Sumerian Foundation on the running and expansion of this program ever since.

Friends of the Foundation

The Sumerian Foundation is also supported by several other organisations in Kenya and the UK, without whom the success of several of our programmes would not have been possible.

Vincent Scotland

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Part of the Vincent shoe store chain founded in Sweden, Vincent Scotland sells a wide variety of fun, fashionable and functional children´s shoes. Vincent Shoe Store prides itself on great customer service and a good knowledge of the workings and needs of children's feet including a unique foot and shoe measuring service. For every pair of shoes sold Vincent Scotland donates 20p to the Foundation.

Eric Wainana

Eric Wainaina is one of Kenya’s most popular pop stars and is ambassador for Johari. He has helped Johari’s profile on many occasions such as at the opening of our new retail outlet in the Westgate Shopping mall (Kenya’s newest and most expensive shopping mall). Every Sunday night you can see him and his band members perform in one of Nairobi’s most popular clubs dressed in Johari.

Century 21 Media

We are eternally grateful to Susan Doak, video producer at Century 21 Media for putting together our magnificent Johari movie. Not only is the result a stunning piece of work, there is simply no better way to communicate what it is we are trying to do!!

Jimi Rae Photography

Jimi, a fast upcoming very successful Scottish photographer has been out as a volunteer to Kenya and did an amazing photoshoot for Johari and some of the children supported through our programs.

Sarah Bates Styling

Sarah has helped us on several occasions for our photoshoots and events to style our professional and amateur models and make them look more stunning than they already are!

Ali Paton

Ali, who most people know from the Gladiator show and her column in the Sunday Herald, has given her time to the Foundation many times to give our events that extra magic sparkle!

Stolen Model Agency

Stolen Models, founded and run by Annalese, is one of the most successful modeling agencies in Scotland. Annalese supports several projects in Africa and is a keen supporter of the Foundation and has provided some stunning models that are fantastic to work with at several of our events.

Mazars

This well established accounting firm based in Glasgow provides critical support to our programs through implementing and monitoring our accounting systems. Gail Hume, a senior accountant at Mazars is our knight in shining armour in making sure our finances are run 100% transparent and perfect.

Edinburgh College of Art

The Edinburgh College of Art has become a close partner of the Sumerian Foundation. Dorothy Hogg and Jenny Deans, head and lecturer at the jewellery department have been unbelievably supportive with our Johari jewellery programme. They have given us a whole range of ideas and feedback on jewellery developments, stimulated the students to create some amazing designs with a design competition; and will continually help us develop our jewellery training modules at our training centers in Kenya.

Glasgow School of Art

The Glasgow School of Art has recently joined a partnership with the Foundation to support the development of our jewellery curriculum at the Seed of Hope training centres in Kenya.

Aeolus

Event organisers at this successful networking company have become real enthusiasts for the work of the Foundation, this year alone they planned, prepared and hosted a large scale event for the Foundation. During this event the new Johari jewellery line, based on the winning designs of the Edinburgh College of Art, was showcased.