Oregare Primary is a school high in the Hills of Nyanza Province in Southwest Kenya.  It is very difficult to reach - some 30km up dreadful mud roads from the nearest town, Kisii.  At first look the location appears very attractive as the hills are very lush with tea and coffee plantations - the microclimate here means it rains just about every day.

However, all is not as it first seems.  This is a very poor area, miles from the nearest town, with no access to the things we in the UK Take for granted.  No proper roads, no electricity, no mains water or sewage, high unemployment, families torn apart by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, children living in poverty.

Here Vision Africa has been working to support the local Primary School by building new classrooms.  You can read more about this in our Orogare Project Page.

However, worse than the Primary School was the old Nursery.  The building was very dark and dingy and, in a space of less than 20 by 20 feet, is where over ninety youngsters under the age of five were taught.  The building (if you can call it that) was made of simple mud and sticks with a rusty corrugated tin roof.   In an area where it rains nearly every day it is not helpful to have a roof full of holes!   How the building was still managing to stand upright is a complete mystery. 

In August 2005 Karl Stanfield took up the challenge to raise the funds to rebuild the nursery at Orogare.   He, with two other Vision Africa supporters, embarked upon the Zambezi Challenge!   A unique challenge to pit their wits against nature and canoe down the mighty Zambezi river in Zambia. 

This was a fantastic opportunity to see Africa's wildlife really up close and personal! Gliding past pods of Hippos, the occasional crocodile and all manner of  wildlife (including elephants, water buffalo, Zebra and a wide variety of antelopes) that ventured down to the water to drink and bathe.  Bright bee-eaters, and malachite Kingfishers darting along the banks, and storks and cranes perching imperiously in the trees.

Canoeing by day in twin Canadian kayaks and camping out by night on remote islands in the Zambezi by night.  Karl and the team faced and conquered the challenge of covering 230km of Africa's wildest in just ten days.  A wonderful experience shared with people of like mind, all raising money for their particular causes and projects.

And what a fantastic effort this proved to be.  Thanks to the wonderful support of his sponsors Karl was able to easily exceed his £5000 target needed to re-build the Nursery School.   This meant that not only could the construction commence, but there would be sufficient to kit out the new facility also.

In fact Karl's feet had hardly touched dry ground when the building work began at Orogare.  The team in Kenya moved really quickly and in no time the old place was gone, replaced by two brand new classrooms.  These are built to last and should be there to serve several generations to come. 

In February 2006 Karl and his family were fortunate enough to be able to travel to Kenya, all the way out west and up those awful dirt tracks,  to officiate at the opening of the new Orogare Nursery classrooms. 

As honoured guests they were treated to all the usual celebrations in Kenya with the children performing traditional dances, drama sketches and reading poetry, local dignitaries on hand to make long speeches and a general day of rejoicing.  A really good day to remember for a long time.

So, thanks to Karl's efforts Orogare have their new nursery, and it will make a huge difference to hundreds of young children who are living in some of life's most difficult circumstances.  But the story doesn't end there...  Also on the trip were Chris and Frank who raised money for Seed of Hope.  Thanks to their efforts Vision Africa began construction of our fourth Seed of Hope Centre in Spring 2006.   This challenge has changed lives.  

Well, now you have the chance to do something similar.  In September 2007 we will be running a new challenge.  This time we are heading for the slopes of Mount Kenya, where we will tackle the mighty peak.  Because this challenge is in Kenya there will also be the chance to visit a Vision Africa project along the way.  

Ever thought you can't make a difference?  Well, now you can.  Send us a quick e-mail to challenge07@vision-africa.org to register your interest and watch out for more information coming soon.

Updated: May 2007

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