I hope to raise £1500 to help fund my humanitarian charity expedition to Kenya. This will mean I can help the communities in some of the most remote places in the country and really help those that rarely have access to any healthcare.

I am a specialist Women's Health Osteopath and will be volunteering with an incredible charity called the Divinity Foundation. Through their expeditions they provide free healthcare, education, food and clothing to the impoverished women and children of these communities, protecting the rights of the children who are often subjected to barbaric cultural practices (www.divinityfoundation.com).

The work covers many different areas but there is a particular focus on the Maasai girls who are often still subjected to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The charity aims to provide not only healthcare for these girls in the aftermath, but also education within the Maasai communities, and a refuge for those fleeing FGM.

Though tough and often heart-breaking, the charity's amazing work has provided a rescue home for those at risk, but also helped educate the cutters about the dangers and provided alternative rites of passage, empowering the tribal chiefs to make changes within their communities.

I would be so grateful for any support you feel able to give, be that five pounds or more. Your help goes directly into the hands that need it the most.

Here is a excerpt written by another volunteer about their experiences helping work with this charity

"A really tough day today, working in a primary school in an area where girls are routinely subjected to female genital mutilation. I saw one 17 year old girl who was circumcised at 14 and pregnant soon after. She laboured for 3 days and by the time she went to hospital her baby had died. She gave birth to a still born baby after a traumatic delivery and episiotomy. She was so traumatized she could barely speak to me. The day ended on a positive note when we discovered a 16 year old girl waiting at the school asking for help. She was fleeing FGM planned for October and an arranged marriage planned for December. I discussed her case with the teachers and they agreed to take her home with them to stay until January. From then they said for her to stay safe she had to go to the local girls boarding school, but there were no funds for this."

Thank you so much :-)

Linda xxx