Blog
Who runs the world?
At Team Kenya, our vision is for every girl in Kenya to have an equal chance to achieve her potential and be free from poverty. We believe that that starts with education, the education that 66 million girls right across the world are being denied today. But of course, this vision comes with its own challenges. One of the big questions we are asked most often is this: why girls? Why are you favouring them over boys? What right do girls have to your funds over boys? This is understandable, given that we all want equal opportunities for the boys and girls…
Read moreIzzy’s volunteer blog – February
February has been my most challenging yet rewarding month of volunteering with Team Kenya so far; I have been super busy organising a Children’s Book Swap fundraiser which took place on 27th March. It was hard work and I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family and friends, who kindly volunteered to help with setting up, baking cakes, running stalls and donating prizes. It was great to see everyone coming together to help raise money for such a great cause. I was also thrilled about the attendance of our star guests, Amy Sutton, a professional actor and…
Read moreIzzy’s volunteer blog – January
This month I have enjoyed meeting some other volunteers of Team Kenya and some representatives of different small charities. Charlotte, who has worked with the charity in the past, has just returned from South Africa and is interested in helping with some fundraising applications and events. Between us (me and Vic), we have been brainstorming events and there is talk of a themed pub quiz… watch this space! I was also lucky enough to attend Social Media training in London, through the Small Charities Coalition. This was a great learning opportunity, especially because I work part-time so it is not…
Read moreNewcastle University Team Kenya Society’s Fashion Show
Blog post written by Sophie Woollands, Newcastle University Team Kenya Society. On Sunday 7th February, a group of student volunteers from Newcastle University Team Kenya Society put on a fashion show in order to raise money for Team Kenya. We were specifically raising money for a girl called Anatalia. After being introduced to Anatalia’s story by Team Kenya, we decided to organise a large event in order to raise funds to support Anatalia to complete her education at university. We are a society made up of young women studying at university and therefore we all regard education as an irreplaceable and…
Read moreGreat North Run 2016
Great North Run 2016 places available! This year, the Great North Run will take place on Sunday 11th September. The Great North Run is a run like no other, dubbed ‘The World’s Favourite Run’, the Great North Run is the largest half marathon in the world, taking place annually in North East England. Participants run a scenic route between Newcastle upon Tyne and South Shields. The 2016 Great North Run general entry ballot is now closed, but Team Kenya have a limited number of places available, so please get in touch with vic@team-kenya.co.uk to secure your place before we run out! In 2015,…
Read moreHoma Bay county has highest HIV rate in Kenya
We were saddened to read a recent news article in a Kenyan newspaper, reporting the shocking number of children infected with HIV in the Homa Bay area, were Team Kenya works. According to a recent study conducted by Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF), 19,000 children in the Homa Bay area are infected with HIV, with only 8,000 having been identified and introduced to treatment. The county has been ranked as having the highest rate of HIV/AIDS in Kenya, with the prevalence rate of over 25%, that’s 1 in 4 children. HIV is a major problem in Ndhiwa, with adolescent girls often most…
Read moreFerguson Trust grant supports over 500 Kenyan girls
Back in 2012, The Ferguson Trust generously donated £10,000 to support our work in Ndhiwa over a period of 3 years. We are delighted to be able to report on the very positive impact that the funded activities have had on the lives of over 500 vulnerable girls and on the attitude and behaviour of the wider community. We have improved recruitment, attendance, retention and attainment of girls in Ndhiwa. We have facilitated training and mentoring for 4 head teachers over 50 teachers, 12 Girls’ Support Group mentors, 24 parents and community members, including local chiefs. There has been a noticeable shift in the attitudes and behaviours…
Read moreVolunteer blog – Izzy
Written by Izzy Elliott, Team Kenya volunteer funded by University of Sussex School of Business, Management and Economics. Hello again and Happy New Year! Since I started volunteering in November, I have learned a lot about the astonishing difference that Team Kenya has made in 2015; reaching 1,800 children and their families with a safe and sustainable water source, empowering 3,360 young girls through their support group and awarding a total of 386 scholarships, all whilst offering practical support to the girls families. I am so grateful to be a part of this amazing charity, and I can only…
Read moreOne year with a vision
One of our fantastic volunteers Helen looks back over her whirlwind year with Team Kenya! I still can’t really believe that a chance meeting with my old friend Vic – who was, by a bizarre coincidence, in Singapore at the same time as me back in November 2014 – could have had such an impact on the last 12 months of my life. When I look back at the last year, I am so excited to have made the decision to get involved with Team Kenya in the way that I have, and even more so about the year ahead – and the…
Read moreComic Relief to fund Gender Based Violence intervention
We are delighted to share some wonderful news…our funding application to Comic Relief for an intervention project looking into the root causes of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Ndhiwa, has been successful! We are delighted to be receiving £10,000 to design and implement an intervention project using sport for change to identify and address the root causes that lead vulnerable girls in Ndhiwa into high risk situations. Our ultimate goal is to provide girls with safety from violence and all forms of abuse. The aims of the project are: • to establish thorough and reliable information about the causes and extent of school-related gender-based…
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