They originally came to meet us whilst on holiday in Mombasa last year and returned this summer to visit us once again.  During their recent visit we were able to say a Big Hello to - and sang a special song for - the people of Edinburgh via a live radio broadcast linking Mombasa and Edinburgh hosted by the Arlene Stuart Sunday Show on Radio Forth 2 (Sunday 25th June). Photographs and other material from the visit is currently being made internet ready and will be available via this webpage in the near future.

Over the last few months Papa Roberto and Mama Eleanor have formed a committee which is currently seeking full charity status in order to extend the assistance provided to the school. For further information on One Wee Corner contact Robert Wood via the contact details provided or visit our BBC Action Network page:- Here
 

How It All Began - Our First Visit
To Ukunda Peace Village School
by Robert & Eleanor Wood

In February of this year Eleanor and I went on a dream holiday to Kenya. One week on safari and one week in a 5 star hotel in Mombassa. However, once at the hotel, we decided sitting round the pool all day, sipping cocktails, was not really for us so we decided to jump in a taxi and take a look around the local area. We asked the driver to take us to the local primary school to see if we could help them in any way.

On arrival, we were greeted by a wonderful man by the name of Jackson Gitonga - Headmaster of the school and local Pastor of Ukunda village. The school comprised of three mud huts, eight volunteer teachers... And little else!

We left a donation for food, paid for a new classroom to be built - and left with the promise that when we returned to Scotland we would not forget them and seek further aid. Since that day, we have relocated the school, built five proper classrooms (albeit as yet they have no floors), formed a seven strong committee of supporters from across central Scotland and have registered as a charity with O.S.C.A.

However, we still have a mountain to climb...

• As most of the children attending the school are orphans and are homeless, we are trying to send out inflatable beds so the wee ones can sleep in the classrooms with teachers in attendance to ensure their safety.
   
• We are also intent on buying a bus as some of the children face a twelve mile round trip walking to and from the school each day.
   
• At the moment the children do not have access to any form of toilet facilities - We must address this issue and give the children the right to dignity.
   
• The school is forced to operate without text books and even the most basic teaching aids and the teachers are unpaid volunteers with no additional sources of income.
   
• We need funds to establish a basic feeding programme - at the moment the school can only provide food for the children when tourists visit the school and leave a donation.
   
• Finally, the current owners of the land the school occupies have informed Jackson that if the land is not purchased within the year - the school will have to close or move to a new location. This would be tragic for the children relying on the school and many would end up living rough on the streets of Ukunda Village - One does not have to try hard to imagine the many problems such as situation would create. We have lost one child this year... And do not intend to lose any more!

Together, we can all make a vast difference to the lives of the children of Peace Village School and - indeed - to the entire village of Ukunda. Babies do not ask to come into this world and the orphans at the school are all to young to understand what is happening to them. They only understand hunger, thirst and moving from place to place. Despite this they are desperate to be educated so they may have a chance at life - somewhere to sleep in safety - food in their stomachs on a regular basis and the ability to quench their thirst in a very hot climate.

Surely every child deserves the right to the basic requirements of life alongside some hope and a little dignity.

Some dreams do come true - lets make the orphans of Ukanda dreams a reality!

Robert & Eleanor Wood