Just imagine standing on one side of a torrential running river. You are there with your baby child that needs to reach the medical pharmacy on the other side. The width of this waterborne disease riddled river is only 60 feet but the nearest bridge is 15km away. This would make a 60km journey to go to the bridge, walk back to the opposite side where the pharmacy is located and then the return trip.
The choice of swimming across the river, walking around or giving up is what the People of Kajuki in Kenya are faced with every day.
It is estimated that 50 people each year make the wrong choice and as a result lose their lives. They either drown or die at home whilst the medicine at the pharmacy could have cured them.
On our trip to Kajuki earlier in the year, we watched in disbelief as fit men entered the river and fought the flow of the Nithi River. This brought it home just how desperately this community is divided by this flowing barrier. One side has the community centre where the people of the district need to visit to obtain essential supplies.
It is our intention to work with the UK based charity Out of Afrika to bring the two halves of the communities together by erecting a footbridge that will span the river.
This simple piece of infrastructure will dramatically improve the lives of so many people:
- The sick would be able to receive medical attention.
- The children would be able to attend school.
- Families will be able to reach aid relief centres.
The proposed bridge site has already been surveyed and plans produced. The construction costs to put this in place are estimated at £10,000.
On the 30th September a group of willing volunteers will set forth to walk from Hamworthy Quay to Poole Quay. Instead of taking an ambling stroll across Poole’s lifting bridge, we will be walking the other way around: Hamworthy, Upton, Wareham, Corfe Castle, Studland, Sandbanks, Lilliput, Whitecliff and then finally onto Poole Quay.
This 30 MILES trip represents the same distance that many people in the Kajuki community would face, rather than simply crossing a bridge!
We hope that you will support our first fund raising event to raise this amount.
THE WALKERS:
Elliot Inglis
I’m the only one of the group who is happy to give my age away. I’m 13 years old and attend St. Edwards School in Poole.
In the last year I’ve been fortunate enough to visit the community of Kajuki twice, once with my family and the other with Blue Peter. Whilst on both trips I have seen first hand how hand life is for these hard working people. This bridge would literally mean the difference between life and death for a lot of them.
Dale Inglis
I took the picture of the man crossing the Nithi River which you see on this page. Watching somebody struggle with life and death just to cross a river is hard to describe.
I cannot imagine the anguish that a mother must face if the only way to get help for her family would be to visit the building that is only a hundred meters away but she cannot get there. I need to make this bridge project happen or that thought will not leave me.
Fr Joseph Majau Justus
I'm Fr Joseph Majau Justus, in charge of St Peter's parish of Kajuki in Meru Kenya.
Being the immediate beneficially of the project since I work for the community, I find it appropriate to join in to raise money for the construction of Nithi Bridge, since I am already in the country.
Kajuki community has 3 location, that are all separated by a strong running river. This leaves the 3 communities completely cut off from necessary transport and communication. One side of the river (Kajuki) have the Division headquarters administration, executing government policies especially security. Every member of these communities reports here. The connecting road to other parts of the country, market, school, medical centre, church, personnel like government workers live here for security reasons, and fear of dangerous and flooding Nithi River. Other 2 communities are to trek 15km each way to reach other side. Recent past, many people have lost their lives risking to cross to avoid long journeys. I have witnessed children and mothers loosing babies and their lives trying to swim across for services. On my daily mission and my staff we experience similar problems reaching out to people.
The intended footbridge will not only join the long-suffering communities but will save many lives. I want to be a part of these Kajuki friends in Poole, the Inglis family to make this a reality. It's estimated that £10,000 will perform the expected miracle. My participation is meant to represent a suffering Kajuki community, to walk long distance the do every day, and now to a lasting solution to their misery.
Steve Perring
I would like to take part in the sponsored walk for the Kenya bridge and water project because I am extremely impressed by the commitment of the Inglis family and their friends to this project and I wish to help them in any way I can. I know that this development is grounded in the community and in safe hands. Small is beautiful.
This is a very focussed and personal project, aiming to help a small community that we can relate to having seen them on video. Yet a small project like this can have a huge impact on that community. And we know that success with this effort will lead to progress on other projects that are planned. And one day I hope that we can say that all these little projects together have changed the world.
Mike Vine
I work for Barclays Africa, and I am a member of the 'Community' team within the department. The Bank and department actively encourage people to 'Make A Difference' to communities, and with the link between Barclays Africa and Kenya, and the enormous benefits that this bridge will have, this is an ideal opportunity for me to make a small contribution.
Listening to Dale Inglis, who has visited the affected area, really does drive the message home that with just a little effort, we can make a hugely positive impact to so many. What more motivation do you need?
Steve Way
My wife and I have sponsored a child in Africa for the past few years and when I heard of Elliot and Dale's work in Kenya I followed their fundraising activities with great interest. When Dale told me the stories of those making the journey across the Nithi River I could not believe what I was hearing and when this opportunity came along to a make a difference I jumped at the chance.
I am a keen runner and although this walk will be a fair bit slowly than I am used to, the distance will be challenging. It will however be nothing compared to the challenge our friends in Kajuki face every day.
Thank you for visiting our fundraising page.
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor us: Out of Afrika will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.
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