As you would be well aware, at the conception of our adventure we set ourselves several volunteering challenges. The first being to assist with a GAPS volunteer project in Kenya, the first port of call and where we were to eventually purchase and deck out our gorgeous Landcruiser, ‘Helga’, and the start of everything. You may remember that we initially discussed working with GAPS Australia on womens handicraft and micro finance business loans in Kenya. Fortunately this fell through, and we signed up to another GAPS program, the Brydges Centre orphanage located in Ngong Hills, just south of Nairobi.
Why fortunately? Because we have fallen in love with the orphanage, the staff working there, the sustainable projects they are undertaking, and more importantly we are head over heels for the children. Brydges Centre currently supports 150 children who are orphaned, destitute, abandoned, abused and street children. As well as small children, the centre supports around 40 youths each year through skills development programs. Their broad objective is to provide shelter, food, education, counseling and moral rehabilitation, health care and clothing and to provide support for childrens rights activities around the country. After spending a mere 6 weeks with the staff and children at Brydges we have developed a very close relationship. Helping develop their website (www.brydgescentre.net), teaching business classes in their skills programs, and providing advice on sponsorship and bridging the gap between this sponsorship and the people of Tasmania (through facilitating contact and encouraging friends and family to sponsor) we are now committed to helping Brydges become fully self sufficient in supporting their children. Over the past few years, Brydges Centre has had a dream to build an all encompassing home for all of their children and staff in the one location. Brydges currently has centres spread out around Kenya in places such as Ngong Town, Bungoma, and Dandora to name a few.
Recently, Brydges have been able to announce the purchase of their very own block of land and with it the realisation of the first stage of this dream! Building plans have already been completed, the five acres has been fenced to protect the property, and a toilet and temporary storage shed has been built. All that remains for the first phase to be completed is for trees to be planed around the fence and for a borehole (well) to be drilled. Stellar news!
But, they still need our help to be able to progress the building project further and for building of the school and dorms to begin. If you haven’t yet checked out the Brydges Centre website, please take a look here: www.brydgescentre.net, and click on the ‘Building Project’ link on the homepage. Brydges needs your help through volunteering and monetary donations to assist with FINALLY bringing all of their children together from across the country. Not only does this project provide longterm financial assistance through the collaboration of housing, teaching, and utilities, it also brings over 150 children together, back into one massive family. You can help through donating via the instructions on the Brydges website or sending us a message through this website. Also, if you are not yet sponsoring a child and are looking for any way you can help the children of Africa, Brydges Centre is desperately seeking child sponsorship. Every little bit goes a long way in Kenya, and everything we can do will help save another child’s life.