‘For Men To Talk’ Founder’s Humanitarian Trips to Kenya

Apart from the ‘COVID’ years, I’ve visited one of the poorest suburbs of Nakuru in Kenya every year since 2014.

Unfortunately, when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived and we were placed into the first national lockdown in March 2020, I think I almost immediately knew that our trip to Kenya two months later would be cancelled. I was devastated. For me, Kenya feels like a second home, and the thought of not going back for the first time in seven years was very upsetting. 

Going to this incredible city helps improve my mental health immensely. It refreshes and recharges my batteries. How hard life seems at home, with the pressures of modern life, especially right now with the increase house-hold prices, nothing compares to the day-to-day life for the residents of the Rhonda Slums with food, water and electricity and luxury. I’ve really missed the country over the last couple of years.

Kenya is a beautiful country, I love the Rift Valley and the beautiful scenery that we see on our journey to Nakuru from the capital city Nariobi. But without a shadow of a doubt, the best thing about Kenya, is the children. They are the happiest children that you could ever meet and so inspirational every time I visit. 

My brother, Paul, is the Community Manager at Derby County Community Trust and was approached by African Adventures to take a group of volunteers to Kenya to help build and renovate classrooms in schools. They’ve been going ever since.

Not only my brother and myself, but my Dad, Steve, nephews Max and Fynn, wife Hayley, children Reece, Harry and Oliver and my cousin Bella have all volunteered over the years. That’s three generations of the Newman family.  I always look forward to one of the few opportunities in the year when we can all get together. It’s amazing to watch us all work as a family for one cause.

I’ve documented my trips in blogs, some long, some short, for you all to read. It shows the amazing work that the volunteers have done, the stories of children that I have met, their struggles and illnesses, but also the opportunity to meet  the Deputy President of Kenya, as well as a ‘once in a lifetime’ football match against the Masai Warriors.

With the vaccine roll-out in full swing and a return to normality on the horizon, I am more hopeful that ever that I will return in May 2022, for the seventh time, to continue our work. This time at a new school, West End Destiny Academy, home to 70 children between the ages of two and ten.

I have to fundraise myself every year. I need to raise over £2500. If you would like to donate, please visit https://bit.ly/LNAA2023

Read all my blogs at https://www.formentotalk.co.uk/fmttken/https://www.formentotalk.co.uk/fmttken/