Safe house milestone for Sussex charity

Two safe houses for homeless street children have been opened in Kenya through a charity founded by Heathfield couple Roger and Lesley Dann,

The couple were touched by the plight of destitute young people after first visiting Africa in 1998 and began a fundraising campaign to help them through East Sussex County Scouts, as members of a committee, as they are linked to the Scout movement with Lesley being Group Scout Leader and Roger as Chairman of 1st Heathfield Scout Group. Since then they have spent their holidays in Kenya and set up their own separate dedicated charity to help support children and with the main aim of opening safe houses.

Harambee for Kenya – taken from the Swahili word meaning ‘all pull together’ – recently celebrated a milestone with the opening of the first two safe houses, which now provide a home for 28 boys aged between five and 17.

Roger, who has worked in the maintenance department at Ashdown Park hotel at Wych Cross for seven years, is able to put his skills to good use in Kenya where he has been involved in various practical projects such as building a cow shed and maintaining a scout building.

He has just returned from another trip with Lesley and other supporters, which saw the opening of the first two safe houses following a £10,000 fundraising campaign through Harambee for Kenya, which is currently in the process of becoming a registered charity.

“This was our original aim and we are delighted that it has become a reality and we have been able to rent two bungalows next to each other as safe houses, but we do plan to purchase land and build our own house and school room in 2008” said Roger. “When many people think of Africa they tend to think about the animals and the beautiful landscapes, tourists do not generally see all the realities. Thousands of children live on the streets for many reasons including being orphaned by AIDS or they have had to fend for themselves because there is only one parent who is unable to care for them. Some have even been ill treated by their own parents. Street childrenhave no identity and are regularly beaten by people. They are often seen begging and scavenging on rubbish tips for food.”

The focus of Harambee for Kenya’s work is in the Kisii area, which is well off the main tourist route. To raise money Roger imports and sells Kenyan artefacts, some of which are being made by young people who were street children. With a small band of volunteers helping, he attends different fundraising events, such as craft fairs, sending all profits back to Kenya. Since launching the charity, supporters can now sponsor a child from £20 a month, enough to provide food, clothes, medical help and classes at primary school. Earlier this year a group of Explorer Scouts visited Kenya with Roger and Lesley to help finish a building that is now used as a shelter for the street children in a different town.

“It is the vision of Harambee For Kenya to take children from the streets to a place of safety where they can sleep, receive medical help, be fed and educated,” added Roger. “ It is our aim to see these young people become valued citizens in society.”

For more information Roger and Lesley can be contacted on 01435 865502 or visit www.harambeeforkenya.org.