Eighth Humanitarian Trip in Kenya is Huge Success 

‘For Men To Talk’ founder, Luke Newman from Potton, has returned home from Kenya where he helped build a better future for children living in a deprived environment. Luke, 42, has visited Nakuru, 85 miles north of the capital city, Nairobi, seven times previously.

After heading to the Rhonda slums of the city, Luke visited West End Academy with other volunteers from Derby County Community Trust, including his Dad, Steve, from Gamlingay and brother Paul, formerly of Sandy, and his nephews Max and Fynn.

In two weeks, the team were able to construct frames for reinforced concrete beams for the second floor of a classroom, build a new guttering system, paint classroom walls, teach lessons, as well as donate clothing and school supplies to every student.

Luke is the founder of ‘For Men To Talk’, which gives men with a mental health illness, such as anxiety, grief and depression a chance to talk with fellow sufferers.

Two years ago, he designed, wrote and self-published a book titled ‘The Mental Health Moles’. During a break in work, Luke taught a class. These children often lack awareness about mental health and the available resources to address their psychological well-being. They will have to rely on conversations with families, friends and teachers to initiate conversations about their mental health. With the help of the book, he wanted to increase their understanding and knowledge, empowering them to seek help when needed from those people. 

“As well as building for their future, it’s important to spend time with the children and show them love and affection which some of them desperately need.” said Luke. “Making face-masks, hosting a sports day, even making a table football game gave them some enjoyment for the two weeks that we stayed.”

The team also visited homes of some of the school children and witnessed the tough conditions, such as no electricity and no clean water, that they live with on a daily basis. Many children, some under the age of 5, walk for over an hour to the school everyday to get a good education. Many of them have five or six people living in a 8 foot by 8 foot mud hut, with a single bed.

Having to raise over £2000 every year is extremely tough and Luke thanks all those who have contributed to that amount, especially Matthew Eden and Jim Eden from Eden Tyres & Servicing for sponsoring his shirt.

Luke has written a day-to-day blog on his trip and can read on the ‘For Men To Talk’ website at https://formentotalk.co.uk/ourfounderinkenya2023/

Derby County Community Trust are just one of a number of groups that partner with over 20 schools in developing areas of Ghana, Kenya and Zanzibar with African Adventures and will be returning to Kenya in 2024. For more information, please visit on 2024, please visit https://www.derbycountycommunitytrust.com/fundraising-and-events/rams-kenya