Building school supplies in Kenya - GapBreak volunteers arrive safe and sound

When we finally arrived at camp Kenya we were utterly exhausted and our camp leader, Eustace, let us have an early night. We woke to the sounds of monkeys and took our time exploring the campsite before breakfast. Today it feels as if months have passed since we sat around the table for the first time as a group, and I'm sure I wasn't the only one wondering how I was ever going to remember everyone's names! But only a week later we have already bonded as a group and it seems like there is always someone in the camp laughing and joking around.  

The local people of Diani are very welcoming and friendly, and it is a pleasure to spend time at the local school were some of us have started making tables, chairs and door frames for the school. In our breaks we play with the children in the playground, and they in turn stand eagerly at the door when we return to the wood work. 

The other half of the group are constructing a vocational education centre for the locals made entirely out of mud, sticks and empty bottles! The communal effort in the village and in the camp to recycle materials to create environmentally friendly structures has really impressed me. One of the highlights so far has been exploring the nearby villages and partaking in some of their daily activities such as planting crops and fruit trees, cooking and making thatching for the rooftops of the local people's mud houses. 

On Friday some of us took part in an 8km fun run with the locals, with book voucher prizes for the winners and some of the younger school students (including a girl who had just turned 11!) None of us came close to a podium finish (no suprises there) but we thoroughly enjoyed the experience! So far the project has been absolutely amazing and everyone is looking forward to another week of fun in Kenya! 
Crewe