NORTH East based charity, Gathimba Edwards Foundation, are finally able to continue its annual house building trip to Kenya to build homes for local families after a three year hiatus due to Covid-19.
In July, the charity will lead a fortnight long trip to Karatina in Kenya supported by volunteers from the North East of Scotland with a target of building three homes for local families. The charity has so far secured 25 volunteers and raised £12,000 but hopes to almost triple this figure by July.
Since its launch in 2015, the foundation has organised and executed five house building trips which has involved over 250 volunteers from the North East, and beyond, and built over 50 homes for 212 local Kenyan children and their families. This year the charity has a target to raise £33,500 for three homes and half acre of land.
Volunteer Darren Cocker of Aberdeen’s Bancon Homes has been involved with every trip to date and oversees all aspects of the project, from initial conception through to completion. Darren said, “I am really excited to finally make the return to Kenya which was put on hold due to the pandemic. The reward I feel when I see families and children being handed the keys to the homes that we have built from scratch in a matter of days is incredible.”
Myles Edwards, the Co-Founder of the charity said, “I am absolutely thrilled that we are able to return to Kenya again this Summer. This year we are looking to partner with 12 corporate sponsors to help build three family homes in July 2023. The support we receive will transform lives immediately, providing the families with a safe place of shelter and land to farm. A three bedroom, fully furnished house can cost up to £8,500 and although we have had a fantastic level of sign-ups so far, we are still looking for more volunteers to help raise funds for the materials and land required for the new homes.
With numerous projects across Kenya, the Gathimba Edwards Foundation aims to help disadvantaged children get a start in life, whether it be support through shelter, clothing, education or sustainable food solutions and giving them the opportunity to not only live their lives as children but also to develop as adults.
For more information about the charity and opportunities to be part of the house building trip in July go to https://gathimbaedwardsfoundation.org/
