Crown Paints Partners with Maziwa Zawadi to Support Young Breastfeeding Moms in Kenya

Crown Paints Kenya has partnered with Maziwa Zawadi Breast Pump to donate 50 breast pumps to young breastfeeding moms, helping teenage mothers overcome some of the practical challenges of continuing to breastfeed while returning to work.

For many breastfeeding mothers in Kenya, balancing breastfeeding, employment and family responsibilities can be challenging. For young and teenage mothers, these challenges can be even greater, particularly when the cost of essential breastfeeding equipment makes it difficult to access the support they need.

Supporting Young Mothers Through Practical Action

Supporting breastfeeding mothers requires more than awareness and conversations. Access to practical breastfeeding solutions, including breast pumps, can help mothers manage breastfeeding while returning to work or pursuing employment.

The initiative by Crown Paints Kenya and Maziwa Zawadi aims to provide young mothers with a practical resource that can make it easier to express and store breast milk while managing their work and family responsibilities.

Sahar Jamal, CEO of Maziwa Zawadi Breast Pump, highlighted the difficulties many mothers face when returning to work while breastfeeding.

“Mothers really struggle to go back to work and breastfeed at the same time. The donation, in partnership with Crown Paints, ensures that we are helping low-income teenage moms who couldn’t otherwise afford [breast pumps].”

The donation gives the beneficiaries greater flexibility as they navigate motherhood, breastfeeding and work, while also supporting their ability to continue providing breast milk for their babies.

Breastfeeding Support for Mothers in Kenya

Access to breastfeeding support remains an important issue for mothers across Kenya. Returning to work can create additional challenges for breastfeeding mothers, especially where workplaces and communities lack adequate facilities, time and resources to support breastfeeding.

Providing young mothers with breast pumps is one practical way of helping address some of these challenges.

The Crown Paints and Maziwa Zawadi initiative highlights how corporate partnerships and community organisations can work together to support breastfeeding mothers and young families in Kenya.

A Timely Conversation on Breastfeeding in the Workplace

The initiative comes at a time when Kenya continues to discuss how to create more supportive environments for breastfeeding mothers.

The Breastfeeding Mothers Bill, 2024, sponsored by Hon. Sabina Chege, seeks to provide for breastfeeding mothers, establish obligations for employers towards breastfeeding working mothers, and provide baby-changing facilities for public use.

While legislation can establish important frameworks for breastfeeding support, practical community initiatives can complement these efforts by helping mothers access resources they may otherwise struggle to afford.

For young mothers, particularly those from low-income backgrounds, access to breastfeeding equipment can make a meaningful difference in their ability to balance work and breastfeeding.

Crown Paints Kenya's Commitment to Giving Back

Representing Crown Paints Kenya at the initiative was Joy Makena, Group Procurement Manager. She was joined by Sahar Jamal, CEO of Maziwa Zawadi Breast Pump, Antonia Mulinge, and brand ambassador Domiana Mwikali.

For Crown Paints Kenya, giving back means supporting initiatives that respond to real community needs and create meaningful impact beyond the company's core business.

The partnership with Maziwa Zawadi reflects Crown Paints' commitment to community support, social impact and initiatives that improve people's lives.

By donating 50 breast pumps to young and teenage mothers, the initiative aims to provide practical support to mothers who may otherwise be unable to afford essential breastfeeding equipment.

Supporting Mothers, Families and Communities

For a young mother, returning to work while continuing to breastfeed can require significant planning, resources and support.

Access to a breast pump can give mothers greater flexibility to express breast milk and manage breastfeeding alongside employment and family responsibilities.

The Crown Paints Kenya and Maziwa Zawadi partnership demonstrates the value of combining corporate social responsibility with practical community support.

Supporting breastfeeding mothers is ultimately about supporting healthier families, empowering young mothers and helping create stronger communities.

Through initiatives such as this, Crown Paints Kenya continues to support causes that make a tangible difference in the communities it serves.