Changing Lives in Meru, Kenya

“Excited, pleased and proud to help the poor in Meru, Kenya”

These are the words of President Stav Melides of the Rotary Club of Lindum Lincoln.

On the completion of a further two projects, to make ten in all in the area over the past six years.

The “Changing Lives” project at a cost of £55,000 has provided two tailoring workshops, a retail outlet and community health support to school girls. The workshops give employment with school uniforms sold together with free re-usable sanitary pads.

The other project is “Permaculture 2” – one of a series, in which traditional farming methods are combined with western knowhow to give higher agriculture yields. Based at the local polytechnic, demonstration areas for dairy, pigs, hens, vegetables and fruit are spreading knowledge not only to students, but also local communities. £9,000 well spent and sustainable. 

Success would not have been possible without a close relationship with Grantham Kesteven Rotary Club and the charity Friends of Kianjai Kenya (FKK), along with financial support from other Rotary Clubs in England, Canada and France and the Rotary Foundation charity in America. The Rotarians in Meru delivered despite the many obstacles; inflation, covid, threat of terrorism, the shooting of the FKK local representative, drought, and now flooding.