Stephen's fundraising walk for Rural Extension with Africa's Poor : REAP

Stephen Burgess is raising money for Rural Extension with Africa's Poor ( REAP )
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70 Mile walk on the Cotswold Way in aid of REAP: Finished on14th June

REAP is a charity, registered in the UK, and operating in Kenya. We provide training and development in issues facing the planet: Soil and Water conservation, combatting climate change and human health improvement: • Stewardship of God’s earth. This is primarily undertaken with sowing and cultivation of vetiver grass. The arrests soil erosion which in turn reduces deforestation, and provides a ready supply of organic matter, suitable for composting. • Women in development is where we focus on teaching through women’s church fellowship groups with a particular emphasis on improved rural kitchens including fuel efficient stoves. Church groups are a very effective means of delivery. • Natural medicines – using God given herbs and plants to create natural remedies which are shown to increase immunity. This work is undertaken in partnership with “anamed” - an international agency working in this field of activity. Our planting projects produce materials that are suitable for use as natural remedies. Of particular focus is promoting “artemisia annua”, the leaves of which are used as a malarial prophylactic and immune system booster. REAP regularly holds training courses and seminars, at grass roots level with individual rural farmers and community groups and residential training for national and international participants. In the next year, we particularly wish to expand the planting of Vetiver grass for soil and water conservation.

Story

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page in support of REAP: Rural Extension with Africa's Poor

I Finished the walk on Saturday 14th June having walked 70.6 miles (112km) on the national trail of the Cotswold Way, ending at Bath. Took 5 days, from 10th to 14th June. I was walking with a friend, Mike, as we both turn 70 years this year.

WHY I AM WALKING for REAP?

I chose to walk the Cotswold Way to fundraise for REAP as it fulfills 2 of my passions and interests. One is walking: I am a voluntary Warden for the Cotswold National Landscape and I monitor one section of the Cotswold Way near to Bath. Second is grassroots community development in Africa and particularly Kenya. I worked in Kenya for 25 years in Christian grassroots work. REAP'S work is in Kenya and the focus is promoting sustainable livelyhoods for Kenya communities through the use of Natural Medicine, Sustainable agriculture and women's empowerment; ( particularly energy saving and improved kitchens).

I have known the work REAP for many years and have been a trustee for the REAP, a charity in the UK, for the last 6 years. The UK charity supports the work in Kenya- valuable small scale activities which have a real impact for rural communities.

See the photos below showing activities and more on the REAP website at https://reap-eastafrica.org/

And a few photo of the walk below, which was amazing. the hills and woods and fields were many. We met people to chat with and various livestock on the way. God is Good. This photo at the Cotswold Way end outside Bath Abbey

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity, REAP, https://reap-eastafrica.org/

My friend, Mike, is walking to fundraise for a medical charity https://www.vasculitis.org.uk/ He has a separate JustGiving page . It's a real privilege to walk together for these charities.

Donation summary

Total
£2,521.37
+ £506.25 Gift Aid
Online
£2,346.37
Offline
£175.00

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