A Small gesture
We think that our story of re-use furniture and how we can use it goes a small way to helping schools like this
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/raukani-school
What we are providing
As you read about Raukani School, your first thought will be who?, where? – never heard of it. Keith and Mandy Tiltman had never heard of it either. On a February winter Sun watersports holiday in Watamu, Kenya we decided to go on Safari to Tsavo east for two days. We had taken some pens, pads & pencils over to give to a school and topped off with lollipops and cakes from the Safari shop. We had passed many schools during our stay which had some buildings (no windows) and mud football fields, all of which looked like a prime school for our token donations. I asked our driver and safari host to stop at one so we could hand out our few goodies. After 30 minutes drive from tsavo towards Watamu we stopped at Raukani School.
Greeted with great excitement the senior teacher Jackson gathered the children into a classroom (of sorts). We were then treated to a very enthusiastic version of the very catchy "Jambo Bwana". We then handed out our treats and I left Mandy and Claire talking to the kids whilst Jackson showed me around the school.
We started with the area which has been dug to receive drinking water. The vegetable patch neighbors the area where the children grow Ugali amongst other local vegetables. We then walked around to what was described as the “kitchen” which was a fire on the floor. Finally we were shown the “office” which was a nice white building with security shutters containing a desk and books etc. When I enquired as to how much it cost to build the office Jackson informed me it was 150,000 Kenyan Shillings (£1000) and was built on donations from other “Safari goers” like us.
We then took a few photos of the ever eager children with Mandy and Claire and headed off. (in a rather more sombre mood then we started with that day) This was our feeling only and certainly not a feeling shared by the school or children who are generally very happy with their lives ( I guess not missing what they’ve never had)
Spanning 9 x age groups a total of 86 x children currently attend Raukani, 42 x boys and 44 x girls it is a very basic school. 5 x teachers work at the school.
Sarah Koi - Headmaster
Jackson Fondoh - (my host on the day)
Carolyne K
Eunice
James Tonny
So, this got me thinking. I am still involved with raising money for several UK charities including Papyrus, Kids get going, Macmillan, RNLI and WWF Snow leopard’s
It would be easy to give money to more charities including many who help Africa but I would prefer to see exactly what our money and services are being used for and not disseminated/filtered before it gets to the end users. So here it is our charity for the Raukani School.
The Kitchen
This is the current kitchen for the Raukani School and our starting point in how we can help them
