Swish For Kenya - Thank You!

Hey friends,

Will try and keep this quick.

I would just like to say a huge thank you to the few lovely ladies who came to my swish with great stuff to donate/swap. A big thank you to those who offered to and have donated clothes, especially baby clothes and a massive thank you to those who have donated money and those who are yet to but intend to. May God reward/bless you for your acts of kindness and selflessness.

Honestly it means a lot.

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Anywho...I will only be sending one 23kg bag over to Kenya. Unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances (my fault) I won't be able to send more than that to Kenya so I have arranged with my contact that it will go to an orphanage as its not enough to send to the two schools also.

However, I still have a huge suitcase and some black bags full of other items. I will therefore be sending 2 23kg bags to Nigeria by God's grace next month and donating a bag of coats to a British charity. And by His grace I would love to make "Swish For" a yearly event as I now have a better idea of how to execute it all effectively.

While I was out in Kenya I met a lovely young woman named Rahab. She had two young children and was about a year older than me. She grew quite fond of myself and my fellow volunteer Eunice. One day she came to our hostel to do Eunice's hair (near the end of our 10 week stay) and upon her departure we gave her money for the hair do and a bag of old clothes we thought she'd like. Out of nowhere she began to cry and embraced us. That was one of the highlights of my trip.

Something that may not even seem essential to us for them to have can mean so much to young women like Rahab. I know for sure I love shopping and I also have had no problem taking hand me downs when I couldn't afford otherwise. People living in poverty want to dress up too! So while it may not seem as valuable as regular food, paying for schooling etc., the love that is implied when you send someone something is immense. And I for one want to spread love.

Anywho dear friends, I shall report back once the pack has been delivered.

If anyone would like to donate more, fell free to contact me as I have a garage to store such things and I have every intention of ensuring the items arrive at the prospective destinations.

Thanks so very much for helping with this guys. Together we can #makepovertyhistory

Still smiling :)

Update - I'm off to Greece tomorrow so just want to add that I have given the bag to my friend Mariam and the gifts will reach Kenya next week!!! I'm sooo very happy so thank you so much!!

Here's a few pics of the Swish b4 and after and Steven and his family with me in Kenya back in 2010.

Swish For Kenya

Hey peeps!!

It's unusual for me to promote an event or something I'm doing via my blog but I felt the need to on this occasion. I would like to invite you to come swish with me......

A few of my friends are travelling to Kenya next month to do some work with churches and the community in Kibera - the slum in Nairobi which I wrote about in a blog some time ago after my emotional visit to Kibera. It is home to 1.4 million people living in extreme poverty. When we visited I believe we were told there were just 5 schools or so or something as unfortunate as that.

So...A swishing party is basically where you bring some or all of your unworn old or new clothes, shoes, bags, books and anything else useful and swap with others. One persons trash is another persons treasure as they say!!

I believe as we are all living in the west - the capital of mass consumerism that a swishing party is a great way for us to not only share our possessions with each other but to share them with people who need and want them more than we do...

I don't want the momentum to leave me so I would like to ensure that this swishing party and the subsequent shipment of the goods to Kenya goes down well. I have spoken to my contact in Kenya who said "I'm sure they will celebrate the package". That really made me feel warm inside.

So...I will be hosting this swishing party at my house on Sunday 1st April. From 2pm to 7pm.

At this party all proceeds (from the £5 entrance fee charged) will go to the shipment of all the remaining and donated goods to various places in the village of Thigio where I stayed. This will include two public schools - Kanyanjara and Gatora and potentially an orphanage and a youth group and a few families if I manage to get in touch with them in time. Any left over funds, which I hope there will be, will go towards buying things like sanitary towels and toiletries for my three friends who are travelling to Kenya to give out in Kibera.

It would mean so much to me and the people of Thigio if you supported in some way!!!It would also be great if you could bring along some male clothes, baby clothes and shoes to donate.

Tell a friend, tell your mum, tell your uncle, tell your cousin...though I don't have a massive house so you can just drop off that gear!!!

Please holla at me if you would like further information!!

Lets get swishing for Kenya!!

Still smiling