Hey Guys thanks for visiting this page,

as some of you know I'm heading off to Kenya this summer to volunteer on a community-based development project in Western Kenya for six weeks. Myself and three other volunteers are going to be working on building classrooms and accommodation for local orphans as well as a small chicken farm so that the community has a constant supply of food and is sustainable. We'll also be getting stuck in the village, teaching sport and as much else as we can.

The initiative is through InterVol at the University of Birmingham (http://students.bugs.bham.ac.uk/intervol) and the UK-based charity, Challenge Africa (www.challengeafrica.org) which was set-up by three Birmingham University students a couple of years ago. They are working hard in two small Kenyan villages to improve sexual health education and facilitate young women to learn skills such as sewing so they don't have to resort to the sex trade for money, which is often a death sentence. The AIDS pandemic has really hit these small communities hard and they need support to get back on their feet.  This situation is of course made worse by the current crisis in Kenya which I'm sure most of you have seen on the TV over the last six months, thankfully now stability is slowly returning but there are still tensions which translate to lack of food and medicines for those who need it most.

We're aiming to raise around £1000 between us to cover the costs of the construction work that we will undertake. Any money that you donate to Challenge Africa will go directly to the costs of construction as us volunteers are covering all our travel, food and accomodation costs from our over-flowing student bank accounts. Your money will go a very long way in Kenya so why not give a couple of pints worth of cash to put some shelter over an orphan's head or an egg for their breakfast.

Any donation, no matter how small will be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks for your support.

Cai  :-)

And for the donation blurb...
                  
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Challenge Africa gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

[I think that this means if you donate £10, then they actually give about £12 to the charity, which is a bonus.]