Brockenhurst College students spend 12 days working on humanitarian projects in Kenya

STUDENTS from a New Forest college spent 12 days working on humanitarian projects for impoverished street children in Africa.

The group of 26 Brockenhurst College sixth formers made the 8,528-mile roundtrip to Nairobi, Kenya, to build on previous work completed by former students.

They worked solidly during the 12-day trip, with efforts and resources split between Melon Mission School, Little Kings Nursery, and Silver Bells Welfare Centre for Orphaned Children. In total the facilities support more than 600 children aged between three and 15.

After months of planning and fundraising in the UK, the group kickstarted work on phase one of creating a rain harvesting and water storage plant at Silver Bells, where they also repaired a play swing and renovated a classroom.

The plant is designed to serve flushing toilets, which Brockenhurst students helped install last year, and will provide a source of irrigation for crops, improving self-sufficiency.

A guttering system and water tank was installed at Melon Mission School.

Students also oversaw the pouring of an 18sqm concrete floor in a rain shelter at Little Kings Nursery, which was built on an earlier trip.

The new floor – like the water harvesting infrastructure – was financed by Brockenhurst fundraising drives and means the facility, which is now flood-proof, can double as an extra classroom.

At each project the group participated in the daily feeding programme, ran games and activities and coached youngsters on literacy and numeracy.

They also handed out much-needed provisions including clothes, shoes, toiletries, sanitary products, medical supplies, learning materials, games, toys, shoe laces, sports equipment and first aid kits.

Trip leader Adrian Butterworth said: “To say we’re tired is an understatement, but we’re proudly exhausted and blown away by our students’ efforts.

“Just like [their peers] in 2019, 2022 and 2023, they were a real credit to themselves, their parents and Brockenhurst College.”

Each student financed their own travel, food and accommodation costs, which totalled around £2,050.