David's Story

I know that for the many keen runners out there, 10k is a short training run. However, until this year, I have viewed running as something to be avoided at all costs; particularly so before I lost 5 1/2 stone! Indeed my only memories of running are at school where the dreaded 4+ mile "run round the river" was the stock PE teacher response to waterlogged playing fields. So it really took some persuasion to get me to sign up to the London 10km charity run on behalf of Karibuni Children. However, with the help of the NHS 'Couch to 5k' app and encouragement from my children, in January I started pounding the streets 3 times each week.  I still can't say I enjoy it, but I am getting there and am now up to 8.5km and I am delighted that, having checked that my life assurance premiums are up to date, Tom and Helen have agreed to run with me and 'encourage' me  around the course. So that's 30km in total!

So to coincide with my 60th birthday, I ask you to consider sponsoring us and support the great work done by Karibuni Children, where I have been a Trustee for 12 months now. 

A few words about Karibuni Children.

What we do

Karibuni Children is a UK based charity, which focuses on transforming young Kenyan lives. We believe that the key to breaking the poverty cycle lies in the transformative power of education. As well as education, the provision of nutritious feeding programmes is an essential aspect of our work, as it is difficult to learn when you are hungry.

In Kenya, the state provides free primary school education for all. However, for the poorest families living in slums, the cost of a school uniform, school meals and other extras, is beyond their means, making it impossible to break the poverty cycle.

Furthermore, with an English based curriculum, it is critical that children have a good grasp of the English language by the time they reach primary school; for children being brought up by uneducated parents and guardians who rely on casual labour for income, this makes nursery education essential. However, with no free state nursery schools, nursery education is beyond the means of these families. Our only selection criterium is that we support the ‘poorest of the poor’, irrespective of faith, tribe, or academic potential. 

How we operate

We partner with professionally run projects in Kenya, run by Kenyans. At any one time, we are supporting around 700 children across Kenya and we walk with the children through their whole education.

As such, each year we make a 20-year commitment to each new child we agree to support into nursery education, standing ready to support those who wish to learn a vocational trade or skill, alongside those who aspire to university.   

We may be a relatively small charity, but that gives us advantages. We can be nimble, making quick decisions when the need arises, lines of communication are short, and we are close to the projects we partner.

Furthermore, we have low overheads, with most of the work in the UK done by professionally qualified trustees and volunteers who give of their time for free. This ensures that nearly 90% every pound donated is spent in Kenya on supporting Karibuni sponsored children.

When we stand and look over the massive slums across Kenya, we know that the scale of the need is huge, and this could make us question what difference we can make. But the purchasing power in Kenya of every pound raised by Karibuni means that we can make a real difference to these children. 

Prior to becoming a Trustee I had the opportunity to visit the partner projects in Kenya and to meet some of the families that we support. I also had the chance to meet some of the young adults who have benefitted from Karibuni's support over the last 25 years. Some followed the vocational route and are now qualified stonemasons, hairdressers or nurses. Others have just graduated with degrees in Accounting and Finance or Biomedical Science and Technology.   

For each and every child we support we can, and do, make a difference, meaning that these children can go on to become independent, productive citizens who will make a positive contribution to their families, communities, and country; I have seen that first hand.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. 

David