In his speech during the first day of the SiGMA Asia Summit, Mr Keith Marshall, Chief Philanthropy Officer, SiGMA Foundation, started by recounting the initial SiGMA Foundation pitch to him from Mr Eman Pulis, founder of the SiGMA Group. What made Keith leave his job, having run a pharmaceutical company for twenty years, he says, was a proposal with a vision that had “longevity”, solidified by his years of friendship with Mr Pulis.

Marshall’s vision for the SiGMA Foundation, from its inception, was to “create something which will provide a platform for people to engage, and in so doing, build themselves up as well” in their charitable endeavours. This is where all the adventure expeditions came along including Kilimanjaro, Mount Toubkal in Morocco, the Camino di Santiago in Spain and soon to add to the repertoire is the Lost City trail in the Sierra Nevada in northern Colombia.

Marshall adds, “Our modus operandi involves getting people together, building friendships, building platforms, building stuff, fundraising, support systems…” Keith may sound light-hearted in talking about the “stuff” that the Foundation has achieved. A closer look at their achievements, however, is nothing short of impressive.

Earlier this year, the largest school ever built which was fully funded by Maltese fundraisers and built beyond Maltese shores, was inaugurated in Jimma Bonga in southwestern Ethiopia. Also in Ethiopia is SiGMA Foundation’s collaboration with the Catholic Vicarage in the same jurisdiction for the launch of the Women Empowerment Project. This initiative aims to establish a modern skill development centre that will provide training in a variety of areas, including IT, cookery, hairdressing, tailoring and embroidery. Other amazing projects are happening in Colombia with the G.L.O.W. Campaign and projects in Bataan the Philippines.

?“I am so glad that the Foundation was given a voice to strive for the voiceless. Putting me on the SiGMA stage here to discuss what we do and how we can collectively work to appease the plight of so many souls across Ethiopia, Colombia and the Philippines has been inspiring. Let’s continue doing what we can, when we can, for whom we can”.
Keith Marshall, SiGMA Asia, 2023.

SiGMA Foundation was founded in 2019 and is the philanthropic arm of SiGMA Group with a mission to empower underserved individuals and communities around the world through fundraising activities, charity work, education programmes, and skills training. Find out more here.

Find out more about the 3-in-1 school in Jimma Bonga, Ethiopia

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