A team, consisting of members based in Parksville, Qualicum Beach and Comox Valley, are taking part in the 2021 virtual Vancouver Sun Run with an objective to raise funds to support education in Kenya.
“Team Help KEEF Help Kids” members will walk or run 10 kilometres in their respective communities in their own time for the Kenya Education Endowment Fund (KEEF), a B.C.-based all-volunteer charity that raises fund for scholarships to secondary and post-secondary school in Kenya for birght, very poor kids there.
“High school is not free in Kenya,” said Parksville’s Janice Trenholm, team leader. “Donations acknowledging the efforts of our 80 volunteers will fund a multi-day Life Skills workshop at the end of the school year for some 130 KEEF secondary school scholarship holders and other Life Skills sessions.”
Life Skills workshop features topics include first aid, teamwork, assertiveness, personal fiscal management and entrepreneurship. Small loans are provided to some participants, who have developed a viable business plan at the workshop. Ideas have included buying ground-nuts to re-sell in the market, seeds to grow extra vegetables to sell, or hens for eggs to sell during their vacation.
READ MORE: Runners still raising funds for charity in Parksville Qualicum Beach
The ideas are capable of continuing with the family after the student returns to school, benefitting the whole household. Loans are repaid, with a small interest, enabling an additional student to receive a micro-loan at the next workshop. The Life Skills Workshops aim to help prepare students for graduation and entry into the world of work or to help them fund further studies.
To make a donation in support of the Parksville walkers and runners and other Islanders who are “helping KEEF help kids” through participating in the 2021 virtual Sun Run, either mail a cheque to KEEF c/o M. Klesner, #904-2135 Argyle Ave. West Vancouver BC V7V 1A5; e-transfer to keefcan2010@gmail.com ; or go to KEEF’s page at Canada Helps.org.
Whichever you choose please indicate on the memo line that it is to recognize Team Help KEEF Help Kids. 100% of donations goes to the Life Skills workshops and other educational services to Kenyan youth. Tax-deductible receipts are available for all donations. Nogift is too small to help.
For more information about KEEF, go to www.kenyaeducation.org. For details of the other volunteers across BC, Canada, and in Kenya, contact Shelagh at shelaghag@shaw.ca or 604-415-9397. To learn more about the Vancouver Island team Help KEEF Help Kids, contact Janice at jtrenholme@telus.net or 250-954-3446.
— NEWS Staff, submitted