Critical office supplies for ongoing development of children in Kenya.

During the period of the 25th August until the 22nd of October 2016, I will be volunteering my time and nursing skills to the organisation Friends Vision in Naivasha, Kenya. Kenya, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) is a low-income, food deficient country where 58% of the population lives below the poverty line.

Friends Vision was founded in 2009 by a group of friends travelling in Kenya and volunteering at Children’s Rescue Centres. Upon their return, they decided to do more to help the community and vulnerable children they had met. Their goal is to see children, families and communities living sustainably with the help of education, vocational training, and community outreach; tools that are necessary building blocks for a successful future.

They are currently achieving this by supporting 38 children (most are teenagers now) through schooling, vocational training, mentorship and life skill training. Some children still reside in rescue centres while others have been re-integrated back into family care, spreading Friends Vision’s work to assisting families and rescue centres to ensure appropriate care and support are provided while the children are on school holidays.

Acquiring a laptop that is fully functioning is essential for Friends Vision to continue their incredible work as well as keeping up to date on reporting requirements, contacting international sponsors and working on sustainable living projects for the local community.

Where I come in:

I'm Samantha. I'm 27 years old and finished my nursing degree at the end of 2012. Since then, I have worked in multiple areas of nursing including peri-operative, surgical, aged care, and medical. I currently work at Nambour Hospital in a Medical and Assessment Unit. However, I have always had a passion to do more, especially to work with the vulnerable and impoverished.

When I was younger my mother told me that I believed that all the "poor people on TV" lived at “the tip”; so I would throw my dinner and fruit etc in the bin so that they would have something to eat. Although I am now a littler wiser to the world than my younger self, my passion for helping those in need hasn't waived. So with my nursing degree in hand and with Friends Vision for support, I will be heading to Kenya to work in a family planning clinic, as well as HIV clinics and a maternity ward in low socio-economic areas of Naivashia. Here I know that my passion and skills will come together to create an amazing journey. This will no doubt be one of the most challenging experiences I take on, but I believe with my support team behind me I can go into this and make a difference.

What I am asking of you:

Friends Vision is a small Non- Government, Non-Religious and Non- Profit Organisation and therefore requires donors to support them and their efforts. My goal is to raise enough money so they are able to afford a new laptop.

I am asking you to dig into your pockets and help support a great organisation. It is a cliché, but skip that morning coffee, check under the couch cushions and clean out the glove box. Every dollar really does count.

Through my Facebook page I will be sharing photos videos and stories of my time in Kenya and my time with this organisation. I ask you to stay tuned and to help support us.

Thank you so kindly for your time and generosity