Helping Kenyan Kids

Jessica Groves, aged 14, Catherine McLeod (17), Daniel Purchese (18) and David Groves (19) need to raise at least 3,000 to cover travel expenses to the Mwokoeni children s centre and school in Mombasa.

They are members of Wayfarers Youth Group in Rustington and it was their leader, Carol Groves, who first made contact with the school last year while visiting the area with her family.

She said: "Our youth group has maintained a link with the school via letters and e-mails and we have been sending pencils and pens to help the children, who are so eager to learn, but materially have so little and live in great poverty."

Carol was asked by the school s headmaster, John Morris Oondo, if she would bring some members of her group to spend time helping his pupils with their education.

She felt it would be a wonderful opportunity for the children, who would benefit greatly from the four youth group members, who are all very talented individuals.

She explained: "David is a talented artist, Catherine is a member of the church music group and Jessica likes dance and drama, so they will have plenty to offer the children with arts projects."

In addition, Daniel Purchese, who has just received an Outset Millenium Volunteers award for his outstanding work in the community, is a volunteer at North Lane Primary School in Rustington.

Carol added: "This is good experience for the volunteers because they all want to go into careers which involve working with young people."

The Rev Zachary Allan, vicar for the parish church of St Peter and St Paul, Rustington, has given the project his full blessing and a special fund has been set up to raise money for the expedition.

If you would like to contribute to the project, cheques made payable to PCC of Rustington can be sent to: The treasurer, Mr D. Webb, 24 Park Drive, Rustington, BN16 3DY.