Build a school in a deprived area of Mombasa

It looks beautiful. Absolutely amazing! Photographs don't lie. The first phase of our new school was completed before we arrived in February, well, apart from the snagging that is. The delight and pride of our teachers, children and parents was tangible. It has made such a difference to the strategies that can be used for teaching now that people can actually move freely around the room. There is fantastic new furniture too paid for by a donor. Looking at the photographs I don't think you would be able to distinguish between our classrooms and a newly built UK classroom so a big thank you to everyone who contributed towards this fantastic achievement.

We've lots of other news though. Firstly, in February and March MSP had volunteers working on the project. Abi came for a couple of days from a charity called Performers without borders to work with our older children. They had such fun learning circus skills and next year a group of volunteers will return for a week, at the end of which the children will put on a show for the local community. There is a photograph below.

Other volunteers were Ali and Jon. Ali has just retired as a primary school teacher and spent a month working in the school with the children and the teachers. Both were very appreciative of the help she gave, as was I. Jon only stayed for a week but he took fantastic photographs which was absolutely brilliant. I always intend to take photographs but time runs away from me.The photographs below are his.

Our children are all doing so well and look so healthy mostly because of our feeding programme. Herrod Foundation have been supporting us since 2011 and thankfully agreed to continue. They were not able to fund the whole programme which now costs £10,000 a year but happily a UK donor has given us the shortfall. This has been a great relief.

What we need now, and soon, is a Cess Pit and soak away for the new building. Catriona Hargreaves Charitable Trust gave us money for a bore hole so that now we have our own water supply piped into the school. (We are also sharing the water with the surrounding community). Having water come out of a tap is great but of course it means that more water is used. More water to be got rid of. In our old building the pit is perfectly adequate to take away the water and human waste but we are pretty sure that the new pit will soon need emptying. A cess pit and soak away may not sound glamorous but it certainly is essential to save expense and provide a hygienic way to get rid of waste. If you feel you could help it would be very much appreciated.

Thank you to everyone for your continued support. You are making such a difference to the community of Mgongeni both now and for generations to come.