Summer is over and it’s back to school. Your child or grandchild may be setting off for a new start, new term or even a new school. Here in the UK this is a right of passage rather than a privilege, but children in Kenya aren’t as lucky.
Help St Peter’s Life-Line give 12 children of St Peter’s school in Kajuki, Kenya the chance to continue their studies after primary school. A registered charity, St Peter’s Life-Line believes that education brings a brighter future to a pupil’s life and our goal, with your help, is to deliver this hope.
Kenya does not offer any free secondary schooling, and a donation of £20 a month is enough for us to send a child on to secondary school. The money you donate covers all costs: tuition, boarding, uniform, books etc. The results speak for themselves. In the words of Erik who gained a BA degree this summer, having been sponsored through primary and secondary schools and university.
”From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your faith in me, your generosity, and your friendship across oceans and cultures. I am excited to embark on this new chapter, and I promise to honour your investment by dedicating my career to educating and empowering the next generation”.
St Peter’s Life-Line is run by a handful of passionate, educated people, one of whom works full time in Kajuki. Since we are such a small community of like-minded helpers, we are able to keep a watchful eye on our students, understand their progress and assess their academic needs. We can make informed decisions quickly and keep overheads to the bare basics. Each child benefits from 100% of your donation.
There is much goodwill towards the charity in Surrey and Godalming has played a large role in fundraising. Money to set up the school library was raised from local cake sales, quiz nights, curry evenings and generous donations. Year 6 children at Godalming Junior school have exchanged letters with the Kenyan primary school and raised money from their leavers’ production.
How did St Peter’s Life-Line start? We go back to Kenya in the unstable political times. A new president, Kibaki had been elected, but after being sworn in, violence erupted and escalated into a political, economic, and humanitarian crisis across the whole country: the renowned 2007/2008 Kenyan crisis.
At this time Father Joe, a parish priest in Kajuki, founded a primary school to help those vulnerable children whose daily lives were devastated by the fallout. As is often the way, and many would argue that these things happen for reasons, hope appears where least expected. On a visit to England, Father Joe met David Baldwin MBE (recognised for his reorganisation of the command structure of his fellow Royal Marines) at a conference. Both men had things in common: both were born in Kenya and both shared a strong Christian belief.
David Baldwin was keen to give back to his country of birth and in 2009, with his daughter, set up St Peter’s Life-Line for children of all religious beliefs and the local community of Kajuki, believing that without education they had no hope of a better future.
Kajuki lies within the foothills of Mount Kenya, still a 5 hour, bumpy ride from Nairobi. It is a harsh, semi arid marginalised region: home to some 40,000 people, who produce just enough food and goods to meet their basic needs.
The St Peter’s students are dedicated. There is a hunger to learn and a pride in learning, many walking miles every day along dusty tracks to reach the primary school. Education is the way forward. Join us in helping them on their journey.
Email Jenny Martin, the charity’s local contact based in Godalming at njnrmartin@hotmail.com. Or find out how you can donate at stpeterslifeline.org.uk. Registered Charity: (No: 1136150).
