Harrow Times: KISIMA PASTORALISTS BANNER

About the centre:

Harrow Times: Kasima Students Kisima Pastoralists' Centre is a Christian organisation working with disadvantaged people of Northern Kenya. It is a marginalised region, where most people live as nomadic pastoralists (herders who move their livestock in search of water and pasture), facing increasingly difficult living conditions.

The aim of the charity is to help pastoralists to be able to improve their own living conditions. Through education and training, it is hoped these people will be able to steer themselves out of dependence and marginalisation and establish a sustainable community.

Harrow Times: Kasima School The Kisima Pastoralists' Centre is made up a secondary school, which opened in 2005 and currently teaches 160 pupils, and a Christian resource centre, which is in the process of being built.

The Educational Frontier Trust is an organisation which raises money for the project in northern Kenya, and members make frequent visits to the pastoralists' centre to help its development.

Chief Superintendent Richard Walton, Borough Commander for Harrow, is one of the trustees who leads efforts to raise money for the people of Kisima.

He and a team of more than 25 people are undertaking a cycle ride from London to Paris, and are hoping to raise more than £20,000 in the process.

www.kisima.org



History:

Harrow Times: Kasima - David Kariuki The initial idea of Kisima Pastoralists' Centre originated with David Kariuki in 1994. Having worked in Northern Kenya with relief and Christian missions, David became greatly concerned with the plight of children and young people from the pastoralist communities of this region. He embarked on developing the idea of a centre that would give quality education to young people from this region, in the hope that they would in turn become resources for their communities.

He also realised that the church in Northern Kenya was experiencing problems. With very few local Christians in the area, he saw that churches only grew when people from other regions came into the area. Consultations with church leaders in the region led to the idea of a Christian Resource Centre that would equip pastoralist Christians for effective ministry among their own people.

David went on to study education at the University of Nairobi and graduated in 1997. He later spent time in the U.K. doing voluntary work and then studying theology and pastoral ministry. Over this time, he shared his vision with friends in Kenya and the U.K. who have joined with him to help make Kisima Pastoralists' Centre a reality.




Educational Frontier Trust:

The Educational Frontier Trust was established in 2001 with the aim of supporting Kisima Pastoralists' Centre.

It is a U.K.-registered charity (number 1087070) and is Kisima's main source of funding.

Funds are raised through individual and group donations, sponsored events and applications to grant-making organisations.

There are currently eight members of the trust, many of whom have visited Kisima Pastoralists' Centre and travelled in the Northern Kenya region.

Harrow Times: Kisima Camels

Chief Superintendent Richard Walton, Borough Commander for Harrow, is one of the trustees and has spent large amounts of time and energy devoted to help the Kisima Pastoralists' Centre develop and grow.

Make donations here


The contact details are:
The Educational Frontier Trust
PO Box 49931
London
SE5 9XN
UK
Email: TEFTcontact@aol.com