Build Schools, Fight Poverty

 

When I first decided that I wanted to use my experience of training for and doing an Ironman to fundraise to help a school in Africa, I really had no idea where to start. I wanted to fundraise for a project where I would know exactly where my money was going and what it was being used for. I initially thought of setting up my own charity, but Jenna quickly convinced me that this would be more work than necessary. She set about looking for a small charity, and came across Basik, an Ilkley based charity. We sent them an email, and a week later found ourselves sat in a local bar, getting more excited by the minute at what we might be able to achieve. The minute we met Chris, we knew this was the charity for us. His passion and enthusiasm for the project they are working on is tangible and contagious. This was it. We'd found out project. Since then, we've met Chris again, this time with his Mum, and have started to discuss more concrete ideas for fundraising and all I can say is watch this space. 2016 is going to be an exciting year.

 

Basik is a family charity that was set up in 2006, with the moto 'Build Schools, End Poverty'. When on a family holiday in Kenya, they came across a local school, held in a mud-hut, and on return to the UK, decided to start fundraising in order to build a more stable building. That school now has a brick built building, complete with toilets, running water and more teachers to meet the demands of the local population. Having completed this project, Basik started to work alongside Simon Musila, a Kenyan who runs Tsavo East Community Development Initiative. The TECDI has the same outlook as Basik- educate children to fight poverty in the long run. During their time working together, they have built two classrooms at a local school, and sponsored a number of children to attend the school, with the first starting university this year. 

                                Extension of the existing classroom 26/08/2015

                             Construction process, two more classes on the way!

 

                                  Completing the the new three classes school

                            Opening ceremony of the new extension  29/05/2015

However, the project doesn't end there- they are now beginning to fundraise to build a third classroom, a staffroom and a lab, as well as continuing to sponsor children to attend school. In their own words 'They may be small but they are active'. This is where I come in- hopefully fundraising together, we can raise enough to give James Ndonyi Memorial Secondary School the facilities they need. 

 

For more information on Basik, please go to http://basik.org.uk. 

 

Build Schools, Fight Poverty.