Fire badly damages school dormitory

On Saturday night (3 February), fire broke out in the dormitory of Bishop Wambari School in Naivasha Kenya. We thank God no-one was injured (the girls were studying in another building), but, as you can see from the photo, the building was extensively damaged, and beds and clothing were destroyed.

Simon Kinyanjui, Director of the project, wants the school up and running again within 2 weeks so that the girls’ education isn’t badly disrupted.

We have been able to make an immediate donation of £8,000 to help refurbish the roof, walls and floor, but we will need more to replace beds and equipment. £10 would help replace bedding, £30 would repair a bed, £100 would re-plaster a wall.

If you feel that you can help by making a donation – small or large – please either:

·         Make an electronic  payment direct to Footsteps International (sort code 20-14-33, account number 50420026

·         Make a donation via JustGiving at http://www.justgiving.com/wambari-fire-appeal

·         Send a cheque payable to Footsteps International to 79, Lynwood Grove, Orpington, BR6 0BQ

Please circulate this to any other friends who might help.

Thank you for your support!

Martin and Mary Print

We made it....just

11 intrepid climbers set out for the summit of Kilimanjaro - Africa's highest mountain - on the 8th November. As altitude sickness and other medical problems assaulted the team, we pressed on, leaving the casualties dotted like confetti on the side of the mountain! Just before midnight on Friday the survivors pressed on for the final ascent. At around 6 am on 11.11.11, as dawn broke over the African horizon, 6 climbers reached the summit at Gilman's Point.
The slowest 'summiteer' was so far behind the others that the first summiteers were starting their descent when he arrived at the top. So the planned 'aren't-we-clever-to-all-get-to-the-top-at-the-same-time' photo never materialised. The attached photo is as good as it gets!!
It was a HUGE CHALLENGE - taking everyone so far out of their comfort zone that there was weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth(and that was just the men!).
Congratulations to all who made it and those that nearly did. Thank you to everyone who sponsored us!!

Oh my bags are packed and I am ready to go...

Three team members are already in Africa.The other 8 are just panicking about how they will fit all their cold-weather gear into their bags. The BIG ADVENTURE starts on Saturday with visits to the Sunshine Home and Church on the Rock School. After a 24 hour safari we put on our climbing boots and start the 19,340 foot ascent to the summit.
Please encourage us by sponsoring us!!

Chocolate bought, bags packed...

Just over a week to go before we set of for this magnificent adventure. In 15 days time, we will be standing on the summit of Africa's highest mountain, with a view stretching 200 miles in all directions!
Thank you to everyone who has sponsored the climb so far. Our fund-raising is still at 'base-camp' so please help us to reach the 'summit' - £111,111 to help care for Kenya's street kids and orphans.
Visit our Team page and select a team member to sponsor!

PS - We've got the most important item - our 11.11.11 Challenge T shirts!

Countdown to 11.11.11

Only 30 days to go before we stand at the summit of Mt Kilmanjaro and watch the sun rise over the plains of Africa.
The team is training hard - running and walking and taking the stairs instead of the escalators!
Simon Kinyanjui and Alison Kirby-Smith (who are in Kenya) have done a practice climb up Mt Longonot - a dormant volcano in the Rift Valley.
Our fund-raising is still in the 'foothills' so visit the 11.11.11 Challenge website and sponsor a team member!

Kenya fuel explosion - update

We have now heard from Bernard and Ruth who told us that, although the fuel explosion was close to them and the school, they and the children are all safe.

Nairobi slum blast kills 100

The Nairobi fuel explosion widely reported in the world's media has occurred within a few hundred metres of the Church on the Rock School that Footsteps supports.
We have been unable to make contact with Beernard and Ruth Ndetei as we are unable to establish mobile phone contact with them at present.
Please pray that they and the children at the school are safe and remember those that are injured and who have been bereaved in the tragedy.