Published: Wednesday, 10th June, 2009 4:09pm

New school set to open thanks to churches

Print | Email

A KINDHEARTED Barrhead group has raised a whopping £32,000 to build a new school in Kenya for impoverished children.

Jim Mitchell from Fern Drive set up the Barrhead Church African Partnership Committee four years ago in partnership with all four Barrhead parishes.

Jim, along with seven other members, visited the slums of Kibera, a shanty town on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya.

The new school will benefit the local community by helping to lift 150 pupils out of poverty, through education.

He said: 'The old Kenyan school was in such bad condition that we decided to raise as much money as possible.

'We started fund-raising four years ago and since the in we have managed to raise £32,000. The school is almost complete and will have four classrooms, an office and a library.

'The library is not just for the schoolchildren but for locals to use as well.

'We thought this was a much better way to help locals educate themselves through hard work.'

Now Jim is appealing to kind locals to dig deep in their pockets to help raise vital funds for two new water tanks for the school.

He added: 'The water tanks are vital because there is no fresh running water in the area and this will help to improve the health of the kids.

'We are looking to raise another £2,000 to cover the cost of buying and installing the tanks.'

In a bid to raise the funds the Committee is hosting the Barrhead Churches Balloon Race this Saturday, June 13 at 3pm.

Cream teas will also be served in the grounds of Barrhead Bourock Church from 2pm till 4pm and with the support of the town school can be complete.

Tickets can be bought on the day from 12pm until "lift off" at 3pm. There will be three prizes of £100, £50 and £25 for the three balloons that travel the farthest distance.

So go along and watch the balloons taking off this Saturday - you could be in with a chance of winning while helping a good cause.