It all started with a dog walk…… Out dog walking with a friend (also a friend of Myles), I mentioned that it would be great if I could find a part time admin job that I could do from home with flexible working hours. A short time later I was introduced to Myles and there...
Author: myles
Christmas Fayre
Thank you to everyone who was apart of this year’s Christmas event kindly sponsored by From the local businesses, volunteers and supporters, bakers, raffle prize donors, over 200 guests who came through the doors and our event sponsor SCG Solutions. We are proud to share the event raised £1,627 for children and their families in...
GEF Dinners
Our biennial fundraising dinners offer inspiring speakers, great food, live music, unique prizes and more. To date, they have raised at total of £195,630 which has helped us to support over 650 children through education, build 59 houses, start 40 business/farming projects, deliver 50 seminars for over 3,000 attendees, provide 322 beds and run ongoing...
Isaiah (Operations, Turkana)
“I was born into a family of eleven in Turkana county Kenya, a semi arid area with almost no vegetation cover. I grew up in a very devastating and bitter environment, but I never deviated from my vision and dreams. I would say poverty was part and parcel of us, we were born with it....
Serah Kimeu (Head of Psychosocial Support, Kenya)
Serah Kimeu joined us at the start of 2022 to develop our initial counselling program into a psychosocial program. I grew up in the Eastern part of Kenya, this is one of the driest area in the country. Our parents had to struggle to provide for us thus leaving no time for them to sit...
GEF Safari Series races
The GEF Safari Series of races, licensed by Scottish Athletics, gives runners the chance to compete over 3 different distances whilst also receiving a unique Kenyan safari animal medal at each event. Sign up to our monthly newsletter to be the first to hear about the 2025 series. 2024 Safari Series The 2024 series saw...
Advisory Committee (Kenya)
Our Advisory Committee in Kenya work with us voluntarily on a number of fronts, ensuring consistent alignment with our vision, mission, values and objectives. Their experience comes from a variety of fields including teaching, church & business. They utilise their experience and their networks to help us deliver support with maximum effective and efficiency.
Isaac
Isaac and his family were living in the most cramped conditions we have seen, a 3×3 metre single room mud hut by the side of a road. Prior to his birth his mum and older siblings had lived in the forest but were evicted by the Government and then put on a waiting list for...
Pavilion Village Children’s Home
Back in 2013 an inspirational visit to the Pavilion Village children’s home in Karatina provided the catalyst for our founders to establish the Gathimba Edwards Foundation. The Pavilion Village was home to 22 children at the time – most of whom had either lost their biological parents due to HIV, been abandoned or abused by...
Peter
We met Peter during our first visit to the Pavilion Village children’s home back in 2013. He is a polite, personable and ambitious young man who thrived once he was able to attend primary and secondary without fear of being sent home due to a lack of fees. We are grateful to his sponsor Jonathan...
Joy
Joy is a smiley, polite little girl who loves singing and playing football. She lives in a very challenging environment in a small mud house with her mum and five siblings. Prior to receiving GEF support the family would regularly go days without food and Joy had not started primary school despite being past the...
Cheerful Children’s Home
This incredible place is currently home to 20 children who have a wide range of disabilities. It is run by a selfless and ever-smiling lady called Margaret who some years back chose to retire early from the teaching profession and dedicate her life to looking after these wonderful children. We are proud to support them...
Quiz nights
Our quiz nights in Aberdeen are a chance to get your friends together for a bite to eat and a bit of fun while raising money for kids in Kenya and north-east Scotland. FUTURE QUIZ DATES: 19 March 2025 - Speed Quizzing at Motif Aberdeen, Langstane Place Reserve your table by emailing us on info@gathimbaedwardsfoundation.org...
Ladies Lunch
SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR NEXT LADIES LUNCH Friday, 12th of September 2025 Our inaugural Ladies Lunch, kindly headline sponsored by The Property Duo, took place at Union Kirk in Aberdeen on Fridy 16th September 2022 and raised an incredible £10,000! With a focus on female empowerment, the room was full of 130 strong women who...
Neil McArthur (Trustee)
Neil came on board as a Trustee in 2019 and has been a force of nature helping on a number of fronts since then. His wealth of knowledge from the charity and business sectors has been invaluable. In May 2021, Neil climbed Bennachie 31 times in 31 days as a fundraiser for the charity and...
Kayleigh Paterson-Donald (Charity Development, Aberdeen)
Kayleigh joined our team as Charity Development Executive in August 2018. Kayleigh was invaluable volunteering 7 days a week for a few months on top of her previous role with a company next door to the GEF office in Aberdeen. The full time role is based in Aberdeen, Scotland and sees Kayleigh assist with the...
Charity of the Year
Choose Gathimba Edwards Foundation (GEF) as your Charity of the Year and help us make a very real difference to children in Kenya and Aberdeenshire. Why Gathimba Edwards Foundation? Firstly, thank you for your time, we know it is precious. We are here to make sure our partnership is as simple as possible for you. ...
Kenya House Building Trip
We believe that every child deserves to have a water-tight roof over their head, a comfortable bed to sleep on and a safe place of shelter in which they can also study. Without this, it is impossible for them to focus and engage fully during their education. Since 2014 we have built 61 homes for...
Chimp Management (Corporate Sponsor)
Keen to support charities, Professor Steve Peters and Chimp Management Ltd first offered their support to us in early 2016. The chance to build houses in rural Kenya for families in need, proved to be an exceptionally popular opportunity amongst the team of mentors. The selection process was decided by competitive application and after much...
Bancon Homes (House Building Sponsor)
Having seen the great things that are achieved with people coming together to help other far less fortunate, we are grateful to be involved along with many others giving what they can to assist in the process of all the great works that the charity achieves. Jamie Tosh, Bancon Homes, GEF House Building Supporter...
Phil Anderson Financial Services (Headline Dinner Sponsor)
Gathimba Edwards Foundation’s biennial dinner in support of disadvantaged children in Kenya was headline sponsored by Phil Anderson Financial Services. This event, which was the third one of its kind, took place on Saturday 16th February 2019 at Ardoe House Hotel, Aberdeen. It was an evening of inspiring international speakers, awards, authentic Kenyan cuisine, unique...
Darren Cocker (House Building Chief)
I started volunteering with the charity back in 2015 when I was given the chance through my previous employer to take part in what I thought was a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’. Six years later and I am the charity’s house building trip project manager and I love my voluntary role within the charity. ...
£50,657 raised at our GEF Dinner: Sponsored by Phil Anderson Financial Services
Our third GEF dinner took place on Saturday 16th February 2019 at Ardoe House Hotel, Aberdeen. The event which was headline sponsored by Phil Anderson Financial Services Ltd raised a GEF record £50,657 profit. The evening consisted of inspiring international speakers, awards, authentic Kenyan cuisine, unique prizes and much more. Thanks to the sponsors, volunteers and 400...
Drew Leitch (Office Sponsor & Trustee)
I’ve been fortunate to travel extensively over the years – mainly through work related opportunities. Travelling is fantastic but you do see your fair share of inequality and poverty. For many years, my way of helping was to support the big charity fundraisers each year … but it all felt too detached / anonymous. So...
Helen Leitch (Office Sponsor & Accounts)
I was first introduced to GEF back in 2015 and felt inspired to get more involved. Participation in the building trip in October 2015 was a memorable experience and the highlight was having the opportunity to meet Ivy (the wee one that we sponsor each month) and the rest of her family. I...
Dan Mulhare (Trustee)
My name is Dan Mulhare and I first met Myles while studying at Edinburgh Napier University in 2007. We both share a love of athletics and it’s through athletics our friendship was born after we both competed on the same University Team. After I graduated with a Masters in Civil Engineering in 2010 I...
Faith
Faith and her mum were both born with a genetic condition which resulted in them having no hands or feet. Despite the challenges her life comes with, Faith never allows her disability to stop her. She always sprints over to visitors and greets them with a big hug and smile, enjoys playing football, writing and...
Fundraising
Why not register now to run, jog, walk or cycle in an event to support the Gathimba Edwards Foundation? Throughout the year we are involved in a number of local runs and can offer charity spots If our official event dates are unsuitable for you why not sign up to a different event and raise...
Wedding favours
Congratulations on finding your happily ever after! In lieu of traditional wedding favours, perhaps you may wish to make a donation in guests honour towards our kids in Kenya. By supporting the Gathimba Edwards Foundation on your wedding day you will be helping us change lives of underprivileged children in Kenya through education, counselling,...
Benevity
Are you a company who would like to take a small action that can add up to a serious social impact? Benevity can help you through various solutions such as: Employee Workplace Giving Matching gifts programs Grant making Some of the world’s most iconic brands rely on Benevity’s award-winning solutions to power their...
eBay
Gathimba Edwards Foundation are part of eBay for Charity! eBay for Charity can help raise funds and boost a charity’s profile with 17 million unique monthly visitors in the UK, and more than 100 million worldwide. eBay for Charity is an easy way for buyers and sellers on eBay.co.uk to support their favourite charities. Buyers...
Bag packs
Our first bag pack followed after Myles’ first visit to the Pavilion Village children’s home with Gideon in May 2013, back when the charity was just an idea. Over £800 was raised at Sainsbury’s Garthdee in Aberdeen thanks to the amazing generosity of shoppers and our team of GEF volunteers. This enabled us to pay...
12 Days 12 Futures
108 children previously faced challenges such as being out of school, struggling for food and living in extremely impoverished conditions. Between 2015 and 2023, the 12 Days 12 Futures campaign changed that. Thanks to the support of 108 sponsors, each of the children have been given the chance of a brighter future through receiving full...
CHRISTMAS
KIDS NOT CARDS Instead of buying Christmas cards, this year, why don’t you or your company donate the money you would have spent on buying Christmas cards and postage, and show that you care by making a donation to the Gathimba Edwards Foundation? A donation of £11 could pay for a pair of shoes...
Faith and Ann
Faith and Ann are young, happy and now carefree twins enjoying pre-school. Despite the many challenges they have faced, Faith and Ann never stop smiling and laughing. When we met them and their family they were living in some of the worst conditions we have seen. Their mum, Tabitha, worked on a coffee farm and...
James Gathekia (Operations, Karatina)
We welcomed James into our team in October 2017 following some strong recommendations from other volunteers and also seeing his incredible voluntary efforts – most notably in sleeping on site for 2 weeks to make sure that all materials were safe and secure during our volunteer house building trip in Kabaru. He also played an...
Darren Cocker, Aberdeen
“I started with the charity back in 2015 as was given the chance through my work to take part in what I thought was a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ 3 years on and I am the charity’s project manager and love my job within the charity, the highlight for me and driving power that...
MDT International (UK Office Sponsor)
MDT International have provided the Gathimba Edwards Foundation with an office in Aberdeen since early 2016. This came a less than a year after MDT’s Owner Drew first met our founder Myles and participated in the GEF Building trip in October 2015. We are delighted to support the Gathimba Edwards Foundation – a charity making a...
Victor
Viki is one of the real characters amongst the children we are supporting in Iten. He was born in June 2000 and is currently at St Peter’s Secondary where his favourite subject is science. Viki loves to dance, play Temple Run on Myles’ phone, eat rice and liver and also run every morning. He also...
David Sagida (Operations, Iten)
David is in charge of our operations in Iten and the surrounding areas. He always has a big smile on his face building houses and when delivering materials balanced on his motorbike to the families we are supporting. His role also involves paying school fees for the children we support, coordinating our child sponsorship and...
Kevin Mathenge (General Manager)
Kevin volunteered with GEF in 2017 and officially joined our team a year later having become an integral part of the charity during his volunteering period. As General Manager his wide ranging role covers finance management, budgeting & forecasting, information management, admin, policy, school reports, liaising with supporters of the charity and much more. I...
Dr. Wambugu Njagi (Counselling & Medical)
Since 2016, Dr. Wambugu Njagi has provided our children with counselling and medical support on a voluntary basis, regularly giving up his time to support our seminars. With vast experience working in Government hospitals and private practice up to 2004, Dr Wambugu then decided to study Counselling & Psychology at the University of Nairobi up...
Our work in Scotland
Neil Jaffrey Initiative Sadly on 7th September 2014 the Gathimba Edwards Foundation lost one of our most loyal supporters in Neil Jaffrey (pictured below right) when he was tragically killed whilst cycling in Aberdeen. Neil, more commonly known as 'Eddie', really was one of a kind. He had a unique ability to take an interest...