Helping Visoi Children's Centre, Kemya

The Visoi Children's Centre International is a small charity who supports a community of children in Kampi Ya Moto in the Rift Valley, Kenya. There, many people are affected by Aids and HIV, none more so than the children, many of whom have been orphaned or who are themselves infected with the virus. The centre has been set up in conjunction with the local community to provide safe accommodation, health care and education opportunities for these orphaned children.

The Rotary Club of Bathgate has been raising funds over the last year for the centre based on the popular TV programme Come Dine with Me. Each member could choose to host a meal and the number of guests. The host provided the meal, chose the menu and theme for the evening. At the end of the evening, each of the guests was invited to make a donation to the charity.

Ailsa Thom from the Visoi Children's Centre visited the club recently to give us an update on the work at the centre. She covered the building of the recently completed orphanage and how they are hoping to become self sufficient by growing their own crops. The current focus is on building a new kitchen to replace the open fire in a barn that they currently use. When Ailsa was at the club, we presented her with the funds raised by ourselves with the Rotary Club of Currie and Balerno supplemented by a District Grant. All told we the Visoi Children's Centre received nearly £2500 from both clubs.