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My name is Sarah Wade and I live in Ide Hill.  Until two years ago I was a pupil at Combe Bank School and I am now in my final year studying Environmental Geography and International Development at the University of East Anglia. 

 As part of my studies I had the opportunity to spend nearly two months in Kenya last summer conducting research for my dissertation. I spent most of my time in Marich Pass Village in northwest Kenya working with local people to study how they are currently coping with the food crisis that has hit much of East Africa.

I stayed in the Field Studies Centre in the village, which is run by the Roden family who also have links with the charity Friends From Marich Pass. The Charity and the Centre both fund a primary school in the village which benefits local families hugely as it provides education and food for many local children.

Since returning home, I found out that the primary school is in need of two new classrooms. This is because at the moment there is not enough space to allow children to complete the last two years of primary school which is a great shame. Each classroom costs just over £4000 to build and it is with this in mind that I have begun fundraising to help build these much-needed classrooms. I have seen how much of a difference the Field Studies Centre and Primary School has already made to the lives of local children and hope that with this fundraising, it will be able to become even more beneficial to the village. 

On the 28th January the Combe Bank Choral Society performed Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle at a concert held at St Luke's Church in Sevenoaks. The evening was a great success and huge thanks must go to everyone involved. Through ticket sales, drinks sold during the interval and donations during and after the concert, £1000 was raised, meaning that my target of £8000 to build the two much-needed classrooms in Marich was reached.

This means that work can now begin to build the classrooms at the Primary School, much sooner than was originally anticipated. I am going to continue to fund raise to support this project as the classrooms will need equipment and many of the pupils who attend the school receive help from the Charity Friends From Marich Pass. The support I have received from so many people has been overwhelming so far, and truly will make a difference to many peoples' lives.

More updates to follow once building work starts!

If you feel able to make a further donation to the charity you can do so by visiting my JustGiving page.  My fundraising page also has more information about the charity and my trip to Kenya.