Latest News

“I just came across this letter, while clearing out old emails – received from a dear Canadian friend back in 2015, just as I was about to set off for my first house-building trip to Kenya… ‘Can hardly believe you will be off in a week’s time, making new friends, building and learning about a whole new culture. The project sounds so worth-while, Joanna; you know already it will make a difference in lives and in opportunities for a whole community – pretty heavy stuff. That’s what you call a major “passing it forward”. What a great way to illustrate to young people the kindness that can exist….’ Myles had come to my workplace earlier in the year & used his magical powers – talking about his experiences in Kenya after meeting Gideon at the opening of the Sport Village, forming a deep..

Happy birthday to us 5 years ago today GEF officially registered as a Scottish charity. So much has changed yet so much has stayed the same. We’ve gone from buying 22 mattresses to having supported 372 children in education, built 34 houses and established programmes of counselling, seminars, sports coaching/tournaments, business start ups, farming projects and more. We now employ 7 staff in Kenya and 2 in the UK with Gideon and Myles still involved in everything at the heart of GEF. Thank you to all our supporters and kids who have made these achievements possible. As Gideon enthusiastically says in the video “bring on the next 5 years”.

Happy birthday to us 5 years ago today GEF officially registered as a Scottish charity. So much has changed yet so much has stayed the same. We’ve gone from buying 22 mattresses to having supported 372 children in education, built 34 houses and established programmes of counselling, seminars, sports coaching/tournaments, business start ups, farming projects and more. We now employ 7 staff in Kenya and 2 in the UK with Gideon and Myles still involved in everything at the heart of GEF. Thank you to all our supporters and kids who have made these achievements possible. As Gideon enthusiastically says in the video “bring on the next 5 years”. Enock Kirop / Kimesh Pictures

~ Motivation Monday ~ Every child has the right to an education, so why do some children only dream of going to school? Thanks to our supporters GEF are bridging the gap between those children out of school; one child at a time. We are proud to say we have 174 children in Kenya with direct monthly sponsors 🧡 This enables these children to attend school without fear of being sent home from lack of fees. They write back and forth to their sponsors, building a relationship as they grow. For those who visit Kenya with us we will always make sure sponsor and child have the opportunity to meet! #GEFturns5 #happybirthday #givingkidsinkenyaachance

Staff Saturday GEF currently have 7 staff in Kenya and 2 in the UK. Each Saturday over the coming weeks we will introduce you to one of our team. Meet Gideon Gathimba. Gideon grew up in challenging circumstances, some days going without food and always running a long distance to school. He always wanted to be an athlete. With hard work and determination he got the opportunity to race abroad and forged a successful career for himself running for Kenya and employed by Pace Sports Management and Nike. Most notable among his achievements is a World Record over the 4 x 1,500m relay. In 2009 whilst racing in Aberdeen he met fellow athlete Myles Edwards. They became friends and in 2011 Myles ventured to Kenya for training. Gideon and his family hosted Myles for some weeks and they quickly realised..

Two of our wonderful child-sponsors Mhairi and her son Andrew, took part in Glasgow’s Kiltwalk a few weeks ago and kindly sent us some photos. Mhairi was supporting GEF while Andrew was walking for the fabulous Social Bite a charity that supports homeless people in Scotland. Mhairi raised £358 for GEF but another 40% will be added to this total by the Hunter Foundation There are 3 more Kiltwalk taking place in Scotland this year: ✅ Aberdeen – 2 June ✅ Dundee – 18 August ✅ Edinburgh – 15 September You can register now for your chosen Kiltwalk and choose Gathimba Edwards Foundation as your nominated charity and help us reach more kids in Kenya & Aberdeenshire. #volunteering #WalkforGEF

~ Thankful Friday ~ As we celebrate FIVE years of GEF this month we have so much to be grateful for ☺️ Today we want to thank each of our sponsors, from those who have been with us from the start to those joining us along the way. The business support, encouragement and guidance we receive from our various sponsors has been a huge part of GEF’s journey so far and without you all we wouldn’t of been able to positively impact 372 children’s lives so far With all that we have we THANK YOU 🧡 #GEFturns5 MDT International http://www.prosource.it Phil Anderson Financial Services Ltd. Doqaru Bonnie Wee Golf SureVoIP – UK VoIP Provider supplying Business with VoIP solutions Rose Recruitment-Ltd Bancon Homes Stewart Milne Homes

“I feel very privileged to have completed my second building trip with The Gathimba Edwards Foundation. Here’s why….. I was in Kenya helping to build 4 houses with GEF for families in need, one of which was for my sponsor child, Dan and his family. Dan’s Home was dedicated to the memory of my school pal, Cheryl McQue. I had the opportunity to hang out with Dan and meet his lovely family. I saw with my own eyes where he had been living. No one should have to endure such conditions. The build did not come a moment too soon. I will always remember Dan’s wide smile when he entered his new house for the first time. I have got buckets loads more out of GEF than I’ve ever put in. I honestly feel so grateful, and can’t thank you enough.”🧡 With huge determination and excitement Caroline..

If you have been following us you will be aware last week we put a call out to help find sponsors for 4 young children Veronica, Beverline, Brighton and Joyline. These children lost their father 7 weeks ago in a road accident. Boni was employed by us in July 2018 to drive our volunteers to and from the house building site each day in Iten. Of his own accord he volunteered all day every day to help us build the 4 homes for 4 families in 6 days. He did it with determination, expertise and a smile on his face. We are happy to say we have found sponsors for the 3 older children! We’d be hugely grateful to anyone who can help us support Joyline, Boni’s youngest daughter. Please visit https://gathimbaedwardsfoundation.org/sponsor-a-child/ for more information on sponsoring a child with GEF! #ChildSponsorship..

~ Transformation Tuesday ~ Felista (Mama Faith) and her daughter Faith are most definitely among the heroes of GEF. Both were born without hands or feet but have never let it stop them from doing what able bodies people can do. As a child Mama Faith was told she could not achieve anything. Since she was a child Mama Faith has proved people wrong. This attitude is also very much instilled in Faith too. Mama Faith has her own home, has learned English, purchased and reared her own animals, grown crops and brought up her daughter to become position 1 in her class at a mainstream school. Felista and Faith we are proud to support you and even prouder to be inspired by you.

~ Monday Motivation ~ What motivates you? For us it is knowing with the support and belief from everyone we have met along the way, we are able to help children reach their potential and make their dreams a reality! Over the last 5 years GEF have supported a total of 372 children; from building homes, paying school fees, farming, clothes, seminars and more 🧡 #GEFturns5 #happybirthday #givingkidsinkenyaachance #thankyou

Happy 5th birthday to GEF! Thank you so much to everyone who changes the lives of our kids for the better 😀

~ Thankful Friday ~ As we celebrate FIVE years of GEF we have so much to be thankful for 🧡 Today we want to start by thanking each and every single one of our volunteers. We have the best supporters we could ever of asked for. From the ones who have donated to raffles, helped at our events, came to Kenya, cycled epic distances, ran across Scotland or the Sahara desert and beyond. To the volunteers who help time and time again to the ones who have helped once. Nothing we do would be possible without all of you. From the tips of our toes to the tops of our heads we THANK YOU #GEFturns5 #happybirthday #givingkidsinkenyaachance #thankyou

“Visiting Kenya with GEF is life changing for the people who go, as well as the GEF beneficiaries. You will learn more about yourself than you ever thought you would. GEF is truly making a huge positive impact on families and they are being inspired to greater things than they ever dreamed about. Kenya & Scotland working together!” Gillian Watt joined us in Kenya last month as part of our KENYA22 volunteer trip. This is a very special time for us where we show guests the numerous ways donations help the children and families we support 🧡 Every April we invite volunteers to be apart of our team. For more information read more here https://gathimbaedwardsfoundation.org/the-kenya-22/ #givingkidsinkenyaachance #firsthandexperience #Kenya22

6 weeks ago we lost the energetic, loyal and hard working ‘Boni’ (Francis Nanguo). He was tragically killed along with the 11 passengers he was carrying in his matatu (small mini bus) when a truck crashed into their vehicle. Boni was employed by us in July 2018 to drive our volunteers to and from the house building site each day in Iten. Of his own accord he volunteered all day every day to help us build the 4 homes for 4 families in 6 days. He did it with determination, expertise and a smile on his face. Boni left behind his wife and 4 young children Veronica, Beverline, Brighton and Joyline. Despite their sadness they were delighted when Gideon visited them last week to check on how they were doing and drop off some clothing and toys kindly donated by some of our supporters. Boni’s..

“I had known about the house building trips for a few years, being friends with Darren Cocker the project manager. He often mentioned how amazing it was and 2018 was the year I decided to give it a go. I can honestly say it was a the best decision I have ever made. A group of volunteers from all over the world from all sorts of backgrounds who became like family. First we went to meet the 4 families we were building for, the conditions they were living in were horrendous to say the least, and having a daughter myself, it was quite emotional seeing kids live like that, so this gave us incredible determination to get going with the build. The team effort and morale that was displayed onsite was the best I’ve ever seen, I enjoyed every minute of it, some people had never held a hammer in their..

~ Transformation Tuesday ~ Enock was the first child who Myles Edwards & Dan Mulhare met during their first trip to Iten in 2011. The pair were impressed by Enock’s IT talents and so began supporting his school fees in a small way. What Enock has gone on to achieve is remarkable. He completed his primary and secondary school education is currently studying Journalism at college in Eldoret. He travelled to the UK in 2017 to speak on front of 400 guests at our fundraising dinner and also completed a work experience at the BBC in London. In addition to this he now runs his own photography/video business and works part time for GEF and The Kenya Experience. Thank you to everyone who has supported Enock along the way. Enock always stood out from the crowd and we are in no doubt he will continue..