Our Friends and Supporters

For our honeymoon, Florent and I decided to spend 2 months volunteering in Kenya but we knew we didn't want to arrange this through an international agency. We'd met many well-intentioned people who had paid thousands of dollars to organisations in Australia, the US or the UK, but were disillusioned after discovering that virtually none of these funds were shared with the African communities they were supposed to be helping.

With great luck, we discovered Jupiter Junior Schools while helping to plant trees in the Mount Kenya region. Julia and Peter Gichuru welcomed us into their home for 2 months, where we have truly felt like part of the family.

During September and October 2010, I taught English and did art classes with the children, while Florent taught Mathematics and even gave some introductory IT classes, as Jupiter was the first school in the village to have a computer. Watching them, so eager to learn and grow, has truly been one of the greatest experiences of our lives.

We are continually amazed by the warmth and generosity of the Gichurus, who sacrifice so much to ensure that all the children in their care are given the same advantages, despite the financial restrictions of some parents. It is their kindness which inspired us to make a long term commitment after our volunteering was over. We now sponsor 2 children at Jupiter Junior School, Millicent Kangai and Dennis Njuma.

Millicent is a bright and very conscientious pupil, who is always studying hard and maintains a joyful demeanor, despite the fact that both of her parents are seriously ill with HIV. 

After being abandoned by both of his parents, the responsibility came to Dennis' elderly grandmother to take care of him, but she has struggled to even afford a pullover for his uniform. But Dennis is oblivious to the troubles around him, and he manages to be both the class clown and one of the top students.

Millicent and Dennis will be the first boarding students to move into the 2 new dormitories that the Gichurus are building, which will eventually hold 30 girls and 30 boys. We look forward to seeing them continue their education under the Gichurus care and guidance and we are certain they will grow into great adults.