The Akili Preparatory School in Kisumu, Kenya was founded by David Omondi and his friend Erick as a grassroots charity with the aim of giving back to the local community. The school was established to provide young girls in the Obunga slum with a well-rounded, high-quality and sustainable education. As a result, this important local charity empowers women in Kenya and aims to achieve gender equality and high-performance through education by providing an opportunity for girls to discover their gifts, skills, passions and motivations.

Aside from academia, the school encourages the children to undertake various other activities including: sports (football and yoga), cooking, gardening (on the eco-farm), music, art and drama. For 2018, the charity are aiming to use donations they have received in order to build a playscape for the children who attend the School, while the school year also begins again. Therefore, it's my aim to use my passions, skills and qualities to help support the teachers at the Akili Preparatory School as well as the children and subsequently the local community by helping to teach lessons, care for the children, lead sports and build facilities.

I first learnt about this charity and their need for volunteers and help after speaking with a friend who undertook research with the Foundation for Edinburgh University. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to build up my passion for volunteering and travelling and will also enable me to understand more about the role of charities in relation to education and development. With your financial help through donations, girls from the Akili Preparatory School in Kisumu, Kenya will be able to benefit from a brilliant, well-rounded and high-quality education. Thank you.