At Keith Prowse and The Experience St Andrews, we're always on the lookout for ways to make a positive impact on the world around us. And in 2023, we went above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of children living in some of the poorest parts of Kenya.
Our fundraising efforts have helped to support The Baobab Nurseries School, a family-run charity that provides food, security, healthcare, and education to over 90 children. These essential needs are the foundation for a brighter future for the next generation.
Our fundraising efforts were anything but ordinary. We baked up a storm in our office Christmas Bake-Off, swung our clubs at the iconic Dukes Course in Scotland, and even took on a 50-mile walking challenge around London. Lots of challenges, but also so much fun had by all!
With your generous support, we raised over £12,000, which we used to build a brand-new library for The Baobab. The library, named 'Rose's Library' after the school's beloved headteacher, is now filled with books, desks, chairs, bookshelves, and six computers, providing a space where these children can learn, grow, and explore their imaginations.
Here are some words from Jim Mason, patron for the charity: ‘The library project stemmed from a conversation that I had with Rose in December 2021. We spoke about the lack of desire for reading in Kenyans but also the lack of printed material available. Rose sent me this shortly after…
“I am so keen in creating and introducing reading for our kids; we are often told that Kenya is not a reading nation, and that if you want to hide any information from Kenyans you should put it in writing, which I must admit is true, you will rarely see a Kenyan reading a book. I would like to change this narrative and have our children love and enjoy reading.”
This was all the motivation I needed to make this happen and following this I opened the dialogue with Andy [Managing Director at Keith Prowse] and Nick [Head of Events at Keith Prowse] as to whether they could assist.
Thankfully, they too were enthused and what followed from the whole of Keith Prowse and The Experience St Andrews was more than we could have ever wished for.
The efforts throughout 2023 to raise the required funds have been phenomenal and so, so appreciated by all the Baobab team and children.
We now have a beautiful, fully operational, and utilised library for all 90 of our young children plus 40 of our sponsored further education children and teachers.
It has been a huge success already! Here are a few words from Rose: “The establishment of our new library has been a transformative addition to our educational landscape, empowering us to cultivate a generation of enthusiastic readers. The children are captivated by the array of books, immersing themselves in captivating stories that ignite their imaginations. We are so grateful for the tireless efforts that have made this library a reality, recognising its profound impact on shaping the lives of young Kenyan readers, fostering a lifelong love of reading that will undoubtedly enrich their futures.”
We cannot thank you enough for your tireless efforts in achieving our goal and as you can already see you have made an immediate effect that will only grow and change lives. Thank you so much!’
This experience has been truly heart-warming for all involved, and it's taught us the importance of creating a lasting impact within a community. Nurturing growth and opportunity and empowering the next generation are so important, and we’re grateful to have been a part of it for this community.