3/1 To Win
Derby County recently gave a group of 59 volunteers the chance to spend two weeks in Kenya - where they built classrooms and improved youngsters’ education and sports skills.
2017 was the sixth time the club, through the Derby County Community Trust, has sent a volunteering team to the East-African nation following the first visit in 2012.
The Rams in Kenya team spent 14 days working at St. Trizah, Ungana and Jubilee Schools, based across the Rhonda slum areas of Nakuru.
It was the sixth visit to support St Trizah school having originally been partnered with the project on their first visit. They have since purchased land, built classrooms and a dormitory to give the 325 young Kenyan students a permanent site to establish their school, having been evicted twice in the last seven years.
It was the fifth trip back to the Ungana Academy, where they renovated and built classrooms, developed a kitchen area and built a secure perimeter wall as well as providing resources for a growing school.
Having added a third school, Jubilee Academy, in 2016, it was the second time that the trip had supported the project. The team renovated classrooms and the kitchen in the past, but this year’s trip had a unique, poignant and monumental story of a special student at the school.
On the first day of the trip volunteers came across Clifton, a pupil at Jubilee Academy. Some time ago Clifton had been hit by a car, resulting in a serious foot injury which had become badly infected with his family being unable to afford treatment. Despite the pain he must have been in, Clifton was still larger than life and never stopped smiling.
After consulting with a local doctor, volunteers learned that if the infection got much worse Clifton would only have around six months to live.
Volunteers set up a JustGiving page in the hope of raising £3,000 to save Clifton’s life. Within just 48 hours the page had raised close to £7,000 and won’t only save Clifton’s life but will save his foot as well, which was at risk of being amputated.
Clifton has already had his first operation which went successfully and he is now on the road to recovery. Learn more about his journey or donate here.
The Rams in Kenya trip originally started with just 13 volunteers six years ago, working in one school. This year’s 59-strong Ram in Kenya team surpassed the 200 mark for people making the humanitarian journey.
Lauren Asquith, who was one of the 59 strong Rams in Kenya team, said: “It was an exceptional experience and a very humbling opportunity to spend time in some of the most deprived areas of Kenya.
“This is the second time I have been with the Derby County Community Trust, the growth of the project and surrounding area has been immense and continues to improve. There is still a lot of support needed but words can’t describe the impact the experience has both personally and on those who we support during our time there.”
Paul Newman, also from the Derby County Community Trust, said: “Our annual trip to Kenya to support the children at Ungana, St. Trizah and Jubilee schools has now become part of the fabric of what our Community Trust offers.
“It is an incredibly rewarding and humbling for all the volunteers to experience such a different culture whilst offering long term support to the wonderful children and staff whose spirit continues to amaze every time we visit.
“Furthermore, it’s another wonderful example of how Derby County can reach and inspire communities, however far they may be away."
The trip to Kenya itself, which is facilitated by African Adventures, benefits both the Derby County Community Trust and the wider communities of Kenya.
Every volunteer is tasked with raising £2,400 of which a percentage goes towards the Community Trust’s disability programmes, the remainder goes towards funding the volunteers time and contributing to vital building supplies.
All aspects of the trip will be organised by African Adventures and the Derby County Community Trust, including fundraising support.
The recruitment of volunteers for next year’s trip is already underway, so anybody interested in finding out more about the trip should email [email protected].
