Posted on: 6/02/2018
Fundraising efforts reach Kenya
Amery Hill School’s Year 7 students took part in a Twelve Days of Christmas Charity initiative in December which saw them raise funds for a number of local organisations including the Alton Food Bank, the Winchester Night Shelter, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Sports Relief and the NSPCC. But their fundraising efforts didn’t stop there, with a collection of classroom equipment destined for a school in Kenya. Amery Hill School students have been involved in volunteer work with African schools in the past, so when the opportunity arose to connect with this incredible continent, and in particular Kiteghe School in rural Kenya, students embraced the challenge.
The opportunity was presented to Amery Hill School by Dr Suzanne Payne, who is an Ambassador for African Promise, a registered charity which aims to develop learning environments whilst improving pupil and teacher welfare. Suzanne has been supporting the charity since 2013 when she accompanied a group of medical students from Western Kentucky University on a visit to Kasigau. Since then, Suzanne has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the work of the charity amongst her friends and by speaking to local groups, and holding various fundraisers. The funds that Suzanne has raised to date have enabled African Promise to extend their feeding programme to support the pupils at Kiteghe, as well as to sponsor educational trips and activities at the school.
Amery Hill students collected pens, pencils, erasers, rulers board chalk amongst other classroom equipment which was taken to Kiteghe School in early January by the Payne family, including Suzanne’s son Charlie who attends Amery Hill School. Vincent Mwadilo, the senior teacher at Kiteghe School, has written to the Payne family saying, “Kiteghe Primary School and the entire Kiteghe community wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude’s to the Payne family for the visit you made for us at the beginning of the year 2018. All of the presents you brought to us are of high help in the learning and we highly thank you for that. We wish that you also pass our gratitude to all whom you involve in supporting us.”
Talking about the seemingly endless fundraising capacity of Amery Hill students, Headteacher, Mrs Elizabeth Wylie, commented “Our students’ fundraising efforts have had an incredible and far-reaching impact this past year. I am immensely proud of their selfless attitude and willingness to help support others less fortunate than themselves. My thanks to everyone who supported the Twelve Days initiative - students, parents and staff.”
The school is looking forward to developing the relationship that they have formed with Kiteghe School into 2018 and beyond.
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