Since 2001 Limavady Grammar School has been involved in a partnership with the Anglican diocese of Kajiado in quite a remote part of Kenya, East Africa. Initially our annual sponsored walk was designed to raise funds for the sinking of bore holes and the construction of wells to help provide and store water. We raised £30,000 for these and in July 2004 a team of 34 staff and pupils spent four weeks there helping with this work.

Since then we have continued to raise funds for the building of a girls’ secondary boarding school. To date £60,000 has been donated and in July 2008 a team of 36 cut the first sod and began a very labour intensive project. Due to our support, it is intended that the first phase of the school buildings will be opened in January 2011.

We have accepted an invitation for a third visit in July 2011 to give further assistance with the building work.

It is difficult for us to fully appreciate the impact these projects have had on the lives of the Maasai people, but there is no doubt that without them people and animals would have died in the regular periods of drought. Also, for the first time teenage girls are being offered the prospect of a good education and a worthwhile career. Our visits give a tremendous stimulus to the work and are a great encouragement to all concerned; they have also paved the way for reciprocal visits to Limavady by community leaders from Kajiado.