Eight Parksville and Comox Valley retirees will tackle the 10 km Virtual Vancouver Sun Run this month to raise funds to put Kenyan students through high school, where tuition is not free.
The team representing the Kenya Education Endowment Fund (KEEF) is walking for a second year in the virtual event.
Some will walk as a group, some individually in their home community and one — who is currently volunteering with KEEF in Kakamega, in western Kenya — will walk with KEEF Kenya’s team.
“We are seeking donations to support two KEEF programs”, said Janice Trenholme, from Parksville. “Student Support offers the loan of scientific calculators, reference and study materials, bikes for day school students and covers urgent dental care, eye glasses, etc. to help ensure success for the 100 plus secondary students supported by KEEF in Kakamega, Kenya.”
A new Mentoring and Leadership Project will fund nominated KEEF students who have demonstrated leadership and service skills in high school to mentor students at their school after graduation.
The project also supports them financially while they wait for admission to post-secondary studies. Summer and part-time jobs are not available to students in Kenya and there is often a one-year gap before placement in a post-secondary school, according to KEEF.
These students will then be enrolled in a nine-month online course in leadership skills while in post-secondary studies. A laptop and some funds for internet access, provided by the KEEF project, will make completion of the online course possible.
All donations are eligible for tax-deductible receipts, according to KEEF.
KEEF is an all-volunteer Canadian charity. Donations can be made to the Help KEEF Help Kids team via KEEF’s website, cheques payable to KEEF mailed to 1230 Saturna Drive, Parksville, B.C. V9P 2X5 or an e-transfer to KeefCan2010@gmail.com. Please note “Sun Run 22” in the message area of cheques e-transfers.
