Kia Motors to build auto mechanic training centres in East Africa

From left: Edward Brown, World Vision Ethiopia national director; In-Shik Kim, president of Korea International Cooperation Agency; Roman Tesfay, First Lady of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; Jin-Haeng Chung, president of Hyundai Motor Group; Soon-Nam Lee, president of Kia Middle East & Africa regional headquarters.

According to Korea Times, a Kia Motors official said Sunday that the company held a groundbreaking ceremony for the centre in Ethiopia on Friday and another in Kenya on Saturday. Chung Jin-haeng, president of Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors, participated in the ceremony held in the Ethiopian capital city of Addis Ababa with First Lady Roman Tesfaye, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) president Kim In-shik and Ethiopia World Vision president Edward Brown.

An official said that building the training centres in the two countries is a part of the company's charity Green Light Project (GLP). The GLP is a corporate social responsibility (CSR) activity run by Kia Motors to support developing countries by providing education and opportunities. KOICA, a governmental organisation that has vast experience offering grant aid programmes to developing countries, will help build the training centres and manage the education programme after completion.

The two training centres in Ethiopia and Kenya are expected to contribute to job creation as well as boost their economies. The training centres will teach not only automotive engineering but also other vocational skills, including sewing, beauty and hairdressing, to boost jobseekers' capabilities. An official said it will also work closely with local companies to develop other employment programmes to help young job seekers.

The training centre in Kenya is expected to be built in the capital city of Nairobi by the first half of next year, and Good Neighbours International, one of Korea's largest NGOs with more than 2,000 professional staff and 20,000 volunteers, will also help manage the training operations after completion.

"Kia Motors will support developing countries' economies through education and job creation," said a Kia official. "The company will extend the GLP into other developing countries, helping young people's education."