Crail is a village in the East Neuk of Fife, well known all over the world for its picturesque harbour. What is less well known is the generosity of its residents. Over the past three years, Vision Africa has benefited from funds donated by several individuals, groups, societies and businesses in the village.
Each Monday afternoon a group of ladies meet in the British Legion hall to enjoy sewing, knitting, tapestry and needlepoint over a cup of tea. Each week they make a collection for VA projects in Kandara, Kambiti or Kibera and so far their efforts have contributed to a cowshed, windows, the resettlement project and food. On Monday evenings the Brownies meet in the same hall and their contribution was raised through a sponsored silence! Bliss!
The Brownies learned about Vision Africa at school. Crail Primary School now has a beautiful display of pictures which remind the children of their Kenyan counterparts. The school has held fundraising events and the children can be heard greeting each other with ‘Jambo!’ One 10 year old girl saved birthday and pocket money for months to buy toys and mango saplings for Kambiti school.
The local Church of Scotland keeps Craillers up to date with news from Kandara and Kambiti through its parish magazine and fundraising or child sponsorship opportunities are displayed in the Kirk Hall. The ladies of the Guild have also been generous, knitting balaclavas, crocheting ponchos and donating cash to help fit out the new oven at Kandara with baking tins.
When word was about that children could do with new underwear, nearly 200 items were donated! When football was mentioned, strips were donated by a local team. When there was a problem with water supply at Kambiti a car boot sale raised enough money to buy ‘Mac’ the donkey so that water could be carried in from a local source!
Each year the Strolling Players amateur dramatic group has a summer show and a Christmas pantomime. For the past two years, they have made a donation to Vision Africa from the proceeds.
Finally, as well as all these group and individual donations, local businesses are keen to help. The local Post Office displays a collecting box and the Pottery sells items of jewellery made by the Kandara Jewellery Project.
There are concerts, sponsored walks and who knows what? in the pipeline. The people of Crail have taken Vision Africa to heart. Some enquire after individual children, whose story has perhaps struck a chord; some after specific projects.
Everyone enjoys the personal feedback that is provided by Vision Africa.
Another area that has seen a sense of community spirit benefiting Vision Africa is Kings Lynn. Long-time VA supporter Christine Wilson teamed up with her friend Vanessa Tuck, Reffley Church of Nazarene and the 7th South Lynn Scouts to raise funds to support the baby unit at Kandara. A coffee morning in the scout hall saw the sale of bric-a-brac, cakes, meal cards and jewellery and the congregation of the church were also treated to a cake sale the following day.
Our thanks go to the people of Crail and Kings Lynn who have shown tremendous support for our work and set great examples for other communities.
If you have any more stories about how people are raising funds for Vision Africa, please use the contact form to let us know. By telling your story, maybe you will inspire someone else to help us give children in Kenya a brighter future.