In January 2025 I visited Baharini pre-school in Naivasha, Kenya, and photographed John, then three years old and the youngest in his class. That portrait is now on show at the National Portrait Gallery in London as part of the 2026 photo portrait prize exhibition. This fundraiser is my way of saying thank you to his school.

Every year the children of Baharini, aged 4 to 6, compete in the Kenya Music Festivals with African-style and Western-style singing games. The competition runs through zonal, sub-county, county, regional and national levels. In 2026 they placed first or second at every stage up to the Rift Valley regional festival, where they finished third, just one step from the national finals.

Each stage means travel, food, entry fees and costumes, and the school has to find that money itself. The head teacher told me that supporting the music lets the children explore and learn about different places in their own country.

I grew up going to dance and art lessons, and I believe that being able to create and express yourself from a young age shapes who you become. That’s why I want to support the children’s singing in particular.

What your donation pays for

• New costumes for both singing games

• ~£115 takes the choir to the zonal and sub-county festivals in Naivasha

• ~£230 covers the county festival in Nakuru

• ~£460 pays for three days at the regional festival in Eldoret

How the money is used

All donations are kept in a separate fund used only for the music festivals. Before each stage of the competition, I send the school what it needs, and they share receipts and photos with me afterwards. I’ll post updates here so you can see exactly what your donation paid for.

Thank you for helping these children be heard.

Saana