From the 20th to the 30th of February I will be travelling to Nakuru in Kenya to mentor, support, and work alongside 15 children from estates in Roehampton and Hackney. These are 16-24 year old young adults who have been exposed to or involved with crime, gangs, drugs, police and family problems, but all have expressed a desire to help themselves to improve their own lives. We will be working in and around the Sure 24 Orphanage in Nakuru, which cares for 150 orphaned boys and girls. By being exposed to the realities of the extreme poverty found in Kenya, these young people will be challenged and inspired to think about how they can make a difference in their own lives.

The main outcome from past trips is that the participants see the ‘bigger picture’ and realise that their personal problems on the Alton Estate in Roehampton are relatively less acute after having the benefit of perspective compared to the real issues facing the children they meet in Kenya. The sobering reality of seeing such poverty firsthand puts their own struggles into a new perspective and gives them the drive to make the most of the opportunities they do have.

I feel very passionate about Regenerate and the work that has been accomplished by the charity. I am happy to consider the founder and past participants I have met over the years as close friends and each and every one of them has been incredibly inspiring. Having grown up five minutes from the Alton estate and with half of my family being from Kenya, the fact that Regenerate has one foot in London and the other in Kenya made it a very natural decision for me to get involved.

I have personally witnessed the impact Regenerate has had on previous participants and how their experience altered perspectives, amended choices and created new-found opportunities. Many of the past participants now return to mentor and help the new intake of kids who have sought our help.

My biggest desire for this charity is that all donations go 100% to the cause. To relieve the charity of my travel expenses to Kenya, I thought it only reasonable that I jump from a moving plane from several miles up – so - I will be doing this in mid-April! Note that I also have a pretty bad fear of heights…!

Regenerate really is so small that you can see the effect of every penny you donate, so please do.

http://www.regenerateuk.co.uk/what-we-do/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0718458/