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Gathimba Edwards Foundation
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Home › About › Pavilion Village › Our story

Our story

willshek About, Pavilion Village

GEF images 1-01

What started as two international athletes on the same running track start line in Aberdeen, Scotland has evolved into a partnership which gets Kenyan children onto the same start lines in life that many of us take for granted.

Myles Edwards first met Gideon Gathimba whilst racing in a 1 mile running event which was organised by his father, Mel Edwards for the opening of Aberdeen Sports Village in 2009. Since then Kenyan international and former 4 x 1500m relay world record holder, Gideon and Scottish 1,500m champion, Myles have become great friends with Myles regularly living and training with him in Kenya. Gideon had often spoken about his desire to help disadvantaged children in Kenya and in May 2013 the pair saw a real opportunity to turn this dream into reality. Some people’s paths cross for a reason.

An inspirational visit to the Pavilion Village children’s home in Karatina provided the catalyst for them to establish the Gathimba Edwards Foundation. The Pavilion Village was home to 22 children at the time – most of whom had either been abandoned or abused by their biological parents or in some cases lost them due to HIV. The home, run by Agnes and her husband John, was in dire straits with no electricity, broken windows, poor quality mattresses and a lack of food and school fee debts meant many of the children were unable to attend school.

Following that first visit to the home in 2013, Myles made his way home inspired and determined to help these wonderful people.  A Facebook post and generous support from our now Principal Sponsor prosource.IT, helped to raise enough money to buy each of the children a new mattress, get them all eating regular meals and enable some of the children to return to school without fear of being sent home.  The Foundation was officially established in May 2014 and much has been achieved thanks to various initiatives, sponsorships and donations. School fee debts of the Pavilion Village children were cleared, electricity installed, repairs and renovations were made to the home, new pillows, beddings, stationery, clothing and cooking utensils were provided and the dangerous road leading up to the home was re-laid.  In October 2015 our team of 52 volunteers from around the world built Pavilion Village a 16 bed dormitory with study area, living room and shower facility as well as a 3 bedroom house for a little girl called Judy in Iruri.  A total of 46 children have now been cared for at Pavilion Village. Please click here if you wish find out more about our annual volunteer house building trips.

We have now been able to expand our education, uniform, book and shoe support to 454 children living in 20 of the 47 Kenyan counties, have built 41 houses for 184 children and funded the start up of 35 businesses and farming projects through our Two Feet Initiative. We also have a full-time counsellor and run seminars covering a wide range of topics including motivation, self esteem, career guidance, gender equality and sexual health.

Thank you to everyone who makes our work possible.

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Gathimba Edwards Foundation is a charity registered in Scotland (SC044869) and Kenya (KE47671).

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About

Gathimba Edwards Foundation aims to provide as many Kenyan children as possible with the opportunity of a bright future.

We do this through:

• Supporting school, college & university fees
• Supplying school uniforms, books and shoes
• Hosting educational seminars
• Building houses or improving existing homes
• Supporting families to grow their own food
• Enabling families to start their own businesses

We also support children in Scotland with severe disabilities via the Neil Jaffrey Initiative.

Gathimba Edwards Foundation is a charity registered in Scotland. Charity No SC044869.

Get Involved

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?

Sponsor a Child

In Kenya a little can go a long way. £35 per month totally covers the education of one of the children we are helping. This covers the cost of their primary,

Kenya Adventure Trip

Each Spring, this unique opportunity offers you the trip of a lifetime. ”This life changing trip gives you the opportunity to see the real Kenya.  It is filled with unique and

Volunteer House Building Trip

Since 2014 we have built 41 homes for 184 children.  More than half of these homes have been built by volunteers from all over the world as part of our

Two Feet Initiative at Christmas

GIVE SOMEONE THE GIFT OF A BUSINESS THIS CHRISTMAS  Help a family obtain a self-sustaining position where their business profits can pay for their children’s basic needs; starting with food

School Child Twinning Programme

We are proud to have linked over 1,000 Scottish and Kenyan school children as part of our school child twinning programme ‘Connecting Children, Creating Chances’ which aims to provide the children with a better understanding and level of appreciation

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 About

Gathimba Edwards Foundation aims to provide as many Kenyan children as possible with the opportunity of a bright future.

We do this through:

• Supporting school, college & university fees
• Supplying school uniforms, books and shoes
• Hosting educational seminars
• Building houses or improving existing homes
• Supporting families to grow their own food
• Enabling families to start their own businesses

We also support children in Scotland with severe disabilities via the Neil Jaffrey Initiative.

Gathimba Edwards Foundation is a charity registered in Scotland. Charity No SC044869.

Principal sponsor

prosource

Office sponsor


mdt


Additional thanks

BackStrong Trust
Bancon Homes
Bonnie Wee Golf
IDed
Stewart Milne Group
Sure VoIP

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