There is a real sense of continuity & lasting legacy with each visit, adding to each building project to improve the resources. Lauren Burrows who also led the trip commented: “We are so proud of the students who have volunteered this year. Many chose to leave their own clothes, shoes and personal belongings.”

Despite each one of them giving their every effort, either labouring to improve the site or teaching the children in class, at the end of trip they still felt like they wanted to do more. Rhonda Farrer joined this school Nuri Lee joined this school Daniel Olsen joined this school Reunions & Events No events scheduled. In my day it was just for missionary kids, and we were an ornery bunch mind you. It is a boarding school in the Kenya highlands in Africa for missionaries kids (and a few Kenya kids today). I went to school at Rift Valley Academy from 5th grade through high school. Teacher Sheila Branch, who jointly led the trip, commended the students for their hard work and compassion: “Not one of our students complained about the desperately poor conditions. RVA- That stands for Rift Valley Academy. Since returning from their 10-day adventure, which in addition to classroom renovations and building new toilet blocks incorporated a wildlife safari, students have reflected on their experience and the stark contrast with our own lives. Having something to call their own made the world of difference and this was all thanks to generous donations from our wonderful local community.

The children of Jubilee and Ungana, staff and parents, were delighted to be gifted even the most basic supplies which we take for granted in the UK. Ely College is so grateful to the community and local businesses who supported the Kenya Projects, either by sponsoring students or contributing to the mountain of shoes, clothes and school supplies that students took with them as extra luggage. There has been a big commitment to fundraise for the Kenya Projects over the last 16 months by 24 students.Īs well as the usual cake stalls and sponsored swims to raise funds, students looked to the people of Ely to support their efforts. Following the success of their October 2017 trip, many students straightaway vowed to return. Over the last several years, students from Ely College have developed a close connection with two schools in the slums of Nakuru, Kenya’s fourth largest city. Rift Valley Academy (RVA) is a Christian boarding school in central Kenya with over a hundred years of rich history. Teenagers and staff from Ely College have recently returned from another life-changing experience, volunteering their February half term to help disadvantaged children at the Jubilee and Ungana Academies in Kenya. Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.Parent, Teacher & Friends Association (PTFA).Careers Education, Information, Advice & Guidance (CEIAG).

Rift valley academy school calendar