Last winter we ran an appeal for useful educational items to collect and send to Kenya.
With incredible support from the parents and pupils of Ipswich Prep School, the staff of Pound Gates and Sevatas, and, the Ipswich business community we assembled a fabulous collection of items. This Appeal was only successful thanks to the support of our partners which also includes Crown Relocations for the provision of packing facilities, UK logistics and container shipment to Kenya and Big Yellow Self Storage for providing storage facilities.
In November our container finally reached Kenya. It was an arduous process to get everything in place with the Kenyan authorities but with all the books, laptops, computers, stationery and other learning materials involved, it will prove very worthwhile.
The educational materials will have a wonderful impact in improving education in the communities we are supporting. The materials will not only benefit the Soma Leo Academy in Nyiera but also public schools in the Osieko area and schools connected with the Mama Sarah Obama Foundation, a Kenyan charity we are also supporting with this initiative.
Kevin Collins, Trustee of The Soma Leo Foundation and owner of Pound Gates & Sevatas says: “I think it is fair to say that we have learnt some lessons about this kind of thing, which at face value looks straightforward but is full of unanticipated challenges. I am glad we persevered. We will operate a library and resource centre from our school in Nyiera from which we can undertake teacher training and loan books, laptops and the like to other schools in the area that have very little resources. The container contents will help achieve a significant improvement in the quality of education delivered, a cornerstone of our Foundation’s purpose. Thank you so much to the partners who have supported us.”
Other items collected through the appeal that were not suitable for sending as part of this consignment have been distributed to other charities supporting causes in Kenya and the UK.