KIKAMBALA AID TRUST

HISTORY

In March 2005 Dave and Hazel Marshall visited Kenya for the first time. They had gone through a difficult time with Hazels illness and then the worry of a major cancer operation. This holiday was a time to spend relaxing and recuperating. They were fortunate to be able to stay in Timeshare accommodation.

The flight touched down in Nairobi and Dave and Hazel transferred to a flight to Mombasa. On route they saw wonderful views of Mount Kilimanjiro. Around the airport they saw what looked to them like shanty towns with rough buildings, built close together. They had seen these sort of developments in other cities they had visited.

The reality they came to learn was that this is how many, many Kenyans live.

A holiday for Dave and Hazel had always been to see how people really live, enjoy the company and food of local people. Very soon a visit was made to the village immediately behind the resort. Perhaps 100yards. Dave and Hazel were stunned by what they saw. Mud huts, huts with corrugated roofs and many smiling, happy people. They were welcomed like no other place they had ever visited. These people had no water, no electricity and no sanitation.

Later in the holiday a visit was made to a small village school where the children sang their welcome.

Dave and Hazel decided immediately they had to help these people. They were working long hours but still did not have enough enough money to look after their families. Life was a struggle.

They spoke to local villagers, to resort staff, the village chief to find out what the Kenyan people thought were their greatest needs. If Dave and Hazel were to help it had to be something where the benefits were ongoing. Providing a meal today was not enough. Many tourists are quite naturally concerned for the wellbeing of the children and are keen to help schools and orphanages. Dave and Hazel decided they needed to do something different. Most if not all those they spoke to said they needed clean water, electricity and mobile phones. A number of people live and work many miles from their family homes and are often unable to communicate. Mobile phones are a lifeline.

Projects began with the digging of a well in the village of Kadzengo. Hand dug to about 70feet. This was seen on a return visit to Kenya in August 2005. Dave and Hazel used their own money to fund this project. Dave lost both his parents within 3 days in Dec 2005/Jan 2006. He decided that the best use of the money he inherited was for work in Kenya. Several small businesses were set up with the help of this money. Electricity was laid on to Kadzengo and an electric pump installed for the well. Electricity was supplied to the villages of Porini and Gorofani.

Dave and Hazel are very ordinary working people and as the inheritance was used they saw that the did not personally have sufficient funds to carry on. The work had to continue so the idea for a charity to raise funds was quickly discussed. Hazel did plenty of research and homework and in July 2006 Kikambala Aid Trust was set up as a registered charity. The first major fund raiser was held prior to a further trip to the Kikambala area. A cabaret evening was held which raised the marvellous total of £800+ this was enough to start another project. Kikambala Aid Trust was born.