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The story so far...

In October 2004, Martin and Liz Davies, both former school teachers and now private teachers in Truro, went to Kenya for their two-week annual holiday. They stayed in a luxury resort on the Indian Ocean coast some twelve miles north of Mombassa.

Two local "beach boys" offered to show Martin and Liz around the nearby village which turned out be an eye opening experience. The term "Third World" suddenly meant something. Here were people living in abject poverty; flimsy houses constructed of palm tree branches with crude mud walls and roofs made of palm leaves, no plumbing, no electricity and a communal well for a water supply. As both Martin and Liz have been teachers for over thirty five years, conversation led to the topic of schools. An invitation was issued for them to go on another day to see a local school...

FURAHA COMMUNITY PROJECT is a privately run establishment catering for about 200 children between the ages of four and ten.

So far, just over £16,000 has been raised thanks to donations from their students, friends, family members, St Paul`s Church, Truro, non-uniform days and other activities at Truro High School, a concert at St Paul's and the revenue from the Summer Show presented by the Purple Dance Studio, Probus and fund raising schemes from Year 8/9 pupils at Penair School where Martin was Director of Music for twenty years. It doesn't sound much but that comparatively small amount paid the four staff and fed children for two Christmases and New Year and has enabled the floors of the original classrooms to be concreted.* The donation from the people of St Paul's provided sufficient funds for a pump and cover for the well. The toilet block is now complete, medicines and food have been provided and two permanent classrooms have now been built and are in use. Materials for a third have been purchased and the foundations are already in place and main construction has now started.

Also, the girls' football teams have been kitted out with two proper football strips and kit. We also pay, 3 members of staff and the caretaker when funds allow.

Three children at Furaha are now sponsored by our eldest daughter, two friends from Australia we met in Kenya and the family of one Martin's students. We are urgently seeking more people to do this for £15 - £20 per month.

For more information please contact Martin Davies.