The group who are currently on an overseas aid project in Kenya

A GROUP of ten Overseas Aid volunteers from Jersey are currently bound for the village of Pala, in Kenya, where they are helping to renovate the school.

The group – Ches Blampied, Sabina Harker, Sarah McGovern, Dave Ellis, Mike Wright, Gerry Baudains, Betty Ellis, Wayne English, Michael Baudains and Karen Le Mottée – are from different walks of life and a wide span of ages from 17 upwards.

They are employing a diverse range of skills in this three-week project, which will involve brick laying, replacement of roof panels, installation of concrete floors and general decoration.

A grant from the Rotary Club of Jersey supported by the local charity Help from the Rock has already enabled the building of a block of new classrooms at Pala, an area of high poverty. This year’s project is to restore dilapidated older parts of the school.

Pala is close to the village of Nyalkinyi in the Homa Bay district of Kenya, which has received support from Jersey for the past three years. Close ties are being developed with Nyalkinyi, as a farm – also supported by Jersey – is located between the two villages. It is hoped that the farm will eventually provide food for the schools.

Progress on the project is being recorded on the website joacinkenya.com. The first week has been described as successful and rewarding, in terms of what has been achieved, with everyone now expert in the art of digging, mixing concrete and moving large rocks.

The group are working well with villagers, although it seems they are finding the Jersey singing highly amusing.