two life-changing projects supporting disadvantaged kids in east africa:

‘academy of hope’ school in RURAL south sudAN

Our academy has been open for a year and has now expanded both pupil and teacher numbers. We now provide primary and secondary education. We have equal numbers of girls and boys and teach in both English and Arabic to reflect our pupils’ diverse ethnic origins. Daughters are sometimes sold into early marriage with older men whom they don’t know. Without education, girls have little say in this. Boys are often expected to tend the family’s flocks of animals rather than go to school. Schooling allows young people an informed choice, rather than blindly following tradition. Better education reduces poverty, improves health and lowers the economic burden. We are empowering young people to make informed choices about their own future.

THE KELLY ACADEMY OF HOPE

When I first met Gabriel and the other South Sudanese 37 refugees in 2017, after they’d fled internal strive at home, they told me that their dream was to complete school in Kenya to take back to their own country and share with their people who have very limited access to education. I agreed to build a primary school back in their District of Wau if they completed their studies.

Both of us kept our word and the school was built during 2023 and opened in early 2024 with a handful of pupils. We have now expanded to 176 children and 13 teachers, along with a medical clinic on site to treat common infections like malaria. We also have a gardener and cook, as we now grow sorghum, simsim and groundnuts to ensure that all pupils and staff get at least one meal daily. I opened the ‘Kelly Academy of Hope’ on what would have been my Father’s 100th birthday. He worked in Africa too, and we’ve named the school both in his honour and in recognition that the tin hut housing the 38 refugees during their time in Kenya was optimistically christened ‘Hope House’. Sometimes dreams really do come true!

We covered the initial costs of building and running the school, and now have a basic water supply and enough solar energy for electricity to run lighting, provide filtration and to access the internet. We have a nursery for 20 infants, and a new sports area for volleyball. We’d like to gratefully acknowledge the help provided by many supporters of all ages. Donations are always welcome and our present priorities are more desks and books.