I am new to the charity sector having taught English in F.E and H.E for over 20yrs.
A major part of my teaching life has been in encouraging your people to develop all their talents and giving them confidence to achieve their aims. In F.E I sent 4 yrs doing pastoral support including fundraising and campaigning.

I was lucky enough to have very supportive parents who sent me to Brownie's, Guide's and to dance classes, to have access to sport through school and opportunities to pursue whatever career I chose. First with the Police Service and then in Education.
On leaving the Education sector I still wanted to be able to utilise all my experiences and the opportunity found me 4yrs ago in Kenya.

Although on holiday I visited a few local schools and learnt about the barriers to learning that the poorest children and families face. Education is not free for anyone. It is largely delivered in a rote learning format with very few opportunities for developing individual talents. Everything is geared to a national test at 14yrs of age from which the top percentage are creamed off and allocated to a secondary school. This can be many miles from home. Those not selected end their education.

I could choose to help one child but the dream was to create a library and learning resource centre in the region of Watamu to help a community. This is my charity and the first library is almost complete.

I have a lot to learn about running a charity and fundraising but the support and encouragement from the local people in Watamu keep me motivated.