St Anthony of Padua School, Ruiri, Kenya

As you will see, if you look at the St Anthony of Padua Nursery and Primary School Development photos, and especially, the album of School hand-over photos, St Anthony's has evolved remarkably since 2010, when it was founded.

Still, the school has massive practical needs now which all of its' friends around the world can assist with.

The generous grant which built St Anthony's new physical plant did not pay for any furnishing.

In other words, St Anthony's needs many, many donations, large and small, to furnish its' new buildings fully.

For instance, its' dining room and kitchen requires tables, benches, serving and kitchen equipment.

If the dining room and kitchen are fully furnished, it could then be hired out for community weddings, meetings, celebrations, gatherings, and the like on weekends and in the evening.

The fees from these various activities improving educational resources for the children of the school.

The classrooms for all year groups, and the nursery centre still need outfitting, with desks, chairs, cupboards, and the like.

Currently, the playground has no apparatus in place, and there is no quantity of current sporting equipment or toys for the children to use.

The children's library still requires books and other resources.

Every classroom needs a full set of the appropriate Kenyan national curriculum.

Could you sponsor a classroom? Could you contribute the cost of one desk or one chair? Could you help furnish the staff room? Or donate plates or soup spoons or tea spoons for the dining room?

Could you donate £5? Or £10? Or $25? Or $5?

Every gift adds up! Every little helps!

It will cost approximately $50,000 to equip this lovely new school in rural Kenya fully.

Your £1, or $1, or £10 or $20 will make a massive difference to the lives of this next generation of young Kenyans.

Please. Think about it. Pray about it. Then, give whatever you feel you are able to offer. You are welcome to get in touch with me here for more details.

Until then, thank you and bless you.

Always, The Revd. Diane C. FitzGerald Clark - A friend of St Anthony of Padua Nursery and Primary School, Ruiri, Kenya.

Great changes taking place on the school site - the new school is built and is now being furnished! The process of constructing the buildings is documented extensively on this page:

The Revd. Diane Clark writes: It was a privilege to accompany the Good Bears on their journey from London to St Anthony of Padua School in Ruiri, Kenya, along with Clare Clark and Father Joseph Kikuyu. Father Kikuyu collected us all from Nairobi Kenyatta International Airport on October 19, 2013. He drove the bears and us, their chaperones, on
the seven road trip from Nairobi to Ruiri, 17km from Meru Town.

150 bears donated to children of St Anthony's by the American charity Good Bears of the World. In addition, 40 bears were donated by St Albans High School for Girls. All were delivered to the School in October 2013 via London Heathrow.

A fundraiser for the School!

A message from Fr Kikuyu: "We have shortage of desks and we have resulted into using benches from the parish Hall and at times the benches are too high for the small children thus making it difficult for them. Also when the parish has a function they take benches away." Anyone like to help?!