A month of community building: Reflections from the Footprints Charity in Kenya

The Footprints Family charity, based in Kenya, had another productive month of education, farming, and community building with the efforts of Burton resident Kerry Watson.

Among the highlights are the development of student’s IT knowledge, an inspiring story of a mother helping her daughter’s education through sewing and the construction of a new dormitory.

Ten laptops were donated to the charity by Nottingham couple Kirsty and Jamie through their software firm ENSEK.

The donation has helped students to hone their essential digital skills, with many government services now online.

The Footprints Charity has also been inspired by the story of Lydia, a single mother who is helping her daughter Rachel’s education through sewing.

Today, Rachel is pursuing her Community Health Diploma and giving back to her community in countless ways.

This partnership not only helps her daughter access education but also empowers Lydia as a Kenyan woman, building confidence, independence, and pride in her work.

The past month’s challenges included the community borehole suffering a catastrophic breakdown following a routine flushing of the system with no water.

The community had to collect water from the river for washing, cleaning, and day-to-day use. The issue was soon fixed with the help of the repair team, reminding the charity of resilience.

Meanwhile, charity founder Kerry Warson visited the Footprints Academy to check in with Headteacher Margaret and observe the day-today running of the school.

This informal visit was measured against KePTS (the Kenya Primary Teacher Standards), which revealed that the school is thriving across all key areas. The new boys’ dormitory is also underway with construction taking place in high humidity.

As the Kenyan academic year comes to a close, the older students have returned from high schools around the country. The graduation ceremony of the Footprints Academy is soon approaching and donations are welcome.

It costs around £3.70 per month for a family to subscribe to Kenya’s healthcare system, which families are struggling to afford.

Donations can be made by clicking here.

In preparation for December, the Footprints Christmas cards are on sale now. Click here to have a look.

Founder of the Footprints Charity, Kerry Watson said: “As we look back on a year of challenges — from vehicles stuck in the mud and borehole breakdowns to caring for vulnerable children and making ends meet — we do so with gratitude, pride, and hope for a brighter tomorrow for our Footprints Family.