The first project commenced in June 2017 when a friend introduced me to 24 refugees who had fled South Sudan six years ago during the repression imposed when the largely Christian south broke away from their mother country to try and obtain independence and autonomy. These youngsters, aged 3 to 16 at the time, walked a thousand miles across the desert to find a safe haven in northern Kenya where they still live in the town of Kitale, in Hope House.

They are all from the Dinka tribe, a tall and very dark-skinned group. They have maintained their traditional cultures around food, religion and social interaction, but have managed to thrive in the educational system available in Kenya. However, this costs money, and they have very limited funds to cover this. So we are funding the eldest 12 refugees through further education at present. It costs only £1,000 a year to attend University and many of these young men and women are highly intelligent and extremely motivated to complete a degree and return to South Sudan to play an important role in establishing their new country. I am convinced this is a sustainable and worthy cause and am committed to maintaining my involvement through Bishop Peter who coordinates funding and investment at Hope House. 

Funding for the rest of the expenses has been provided by other sponsors. However, funds from them are running out so we are having to make further changes. Our Sudanese friends in and around Kitale will have to return to their country of birth earlier than planned, and many will continue their education there which is cheaper but less extensive. We have now purchased some land in Juba in South Sudan to use as a base for the refugees when they return to their own country which James and Debra have already done.

I went to Kenya in August 2022 this time with Karen, Carolyn and Jake. We spent a few days working with Sister Vicky in and around Nakuru where we provided some teaching and clinical support for her and those who work for her. Meanwhile, we also worked with the local orphanage to provide drama and art classes. We then repeated the same approach in Kitale where we worked with the South Sudanese refugees under Gabriel’s supervision. We have planned ahead for the repatriation of the Hope House residents back to their own country when they complete their education in Kenya. The land we bought there for the Charity has been used as a base to build a large Primary School for the local children. This was built during 2023 and now has 5 classrooms, with a teacher for each class of 30 pupils on site. The Hope House graduates will invest their educational attainments into the local economy which needs their newly acquired skills and education to help the young country realise its potential through education and leadership roles. We have agreed to fund the school through the first year until fees start to match expenses. In the interim, we continue to fund and support the remaining refugee children at Hope House for their food, accommodation and educational needs.

We also support initiatives in Nakuru, where our friend Sister Vicky runs a large school and a small hospital, both of which we have volunteered in. She also has an experimental farm at Momoi, where we have also helped. In summer 2022, I did an impromptu clinic there at her request one Sunday and saw 124 patients: a record number of consultations in one day for me! We also support a local charity called Armani Childrens Home where orphans are housed and educated - my family and I spent a day with them in 2022 and continue to stay in touch and offer financial and social support there.