The trip builds on work carried out in 2024, when the Purbrook Park team fed all the children at St Trizah School and held a party for them, provided clothing for pupils, teachers and families in the wider community, and helped build classrooms and improve school facilities.

This year, the group set out to go even further.

One of the key projects was building desks and chairs for pupils. At Eileen Ngochoch, some classes have more than 50 children, making a lack of basic classroom furniture a significant challenge.

Just days into the trip, Mrs Taylor, Lead Teacher of Performing Arts set up a GoFundMe page, which raised more than £500. This was boosted by incredibly generous donations from members of the Purbrook Park community, including pupils, families and staff.

One of the priorities was providing new school shoes for the boarders at St Trizah. The condition of some of the children's existing shoes was described as heartbreaking, with some pupils not having a pair at all.

The team purchased 70 pairs of brand-new, handmade school shoes, and were even able to visit the local workshop where the shoes were being made by hand.

“It was such a special experience to see the shoes being made locally and then know that they would be going directly to children who desperately needed them,” said Mrs Taylor.

The team also purchased two triple bunk beds, six mattresses and blankets for the St Trizah boarders. Some children had been sharing single beds or sleeping on the floor, meaning the new beds and bedding will make a significant difference.

The remaining funds were used to provide food for special celebrations at both schools. For many of the children, the parties will be a Christmas-like occasion.

At Eileen Ngochoch, families are required to pay for the basic school meal. As a result, more than half of the school's approximately 1,200 pupils can go through the school day without eating. St Trizah has around 170 pupils.

The Purbrook Park team also provided sanitary products for all 320 girls from Year 5 upwards at Eileen Ngochoch. Access to sanitary products is particularly important, as many girls miss school during their periods simply because they do not have the products they need. Purbrook Park pupils also generously donated supplies to support the project.

Further donations included two bales of clothing, enough to help clothe pupils at St Trizah and some pupils at Eileen Ngochoch, as well as stationery, revision books, mathematics sets for examinations and two football kits for the Eileen Ngochoch team.

Finally, the team used the remaining funds to support children most in need through Eileen Ngochoch's feeding programme.

They were able to provide food for 41 pupils for 28 days, giving them an entire month of meals.

Every item and project was identified by the schools as something they needed, allowing the Purbrook Park team to fulfil almost all of the requests on their wish lists.

Ella, a pupil from Purbrook Park School who attended the trip said “Kenya was an eye opener and life changing experience!! To see the difference in the lives of kids in Kenya compared to coming home to my luxuries was heartbreaking and it made me realise how lucky we all really are, I'm so grateful to have done this trip thank you to my teachers Miss Cumbo and Mr Gissing for organising this trip”

The trip has highlighted that meaningful change does not always come from simply bringing donations from the UK. By spending time in the schools, listening to teachers and pupils and understanding their needs first-hand, the team were able to direct their fundraising towards projects that could have the greatest impact.      

Claudia, a pupil from Purbrook Park School who attended the trip stated, “Going to Kenya was honestly the scariest thing I’ve ever done. I was excited, nervous and terrified all at once, and there were moments when I wanted to back out. But I went, even though I was scared, it soon became one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Meeting the children, seeing their smiles and experiencing the safari are memories I’ll carry with me forever. Kenya made me realise how much we take for granted and changed the way I see the world. To anyone thinking about going in the future, don’t let fear stop you. You might be scared I was too but go scared. because sometimes the things that frighten us most become the memories, we treasure the most!

The Purbrook Park School team said they were incredibly proud of what had been achieved and grateful for the generosity of pupils, parents, families, staff and the wider community.

The visit has once again demonstrated the strength of the partnership between Purbrook Park School and its Kenyan partner schools — and the lasting difference that can be made when a community comes together to help others.

 

Fiona Cumbo

Lead Teacher of ADT, Purbrook Park School