A team of students and staff from the Sussex School of Business, Management and Economics (BMEc) have returned from two-week trip to climb Mount Kenya, raising over £8,000 to aid Team Kenya's effort to reduce extreme poverty in the rural west of the country. 

The group's adventure began in June with a brief visit to Nairobi before a stop at the equator and on to Nanyuki, where they stayed for a night ahead of their trek to climb Mount Kenya. The team included:

• Halima Ali Akbar, year 1 BSc International Business (with a professional placement year)
• Karen Brandt, year 2 BA Economics (with a professional placement year)
• Alexandra Butcher, year 1 BSc Economics
• Helen Greaves, Student Experience Co-ordinator
• Julie Litchfield, Senior Lecturer in Economics
• Georgina Lott, Student Experience Co-ordinator
• Juliet Williams, Student Experience Officer

Setting from Sirimon Gate (3300m) following a short period of acclimatisation, the group’s gruelling three-day expedition took in valleys, steep climbs, rain and hail before the final snowy ascent to Point Lenana (4985m) at 2am.

After a couple of days of much-needed rest and wildlife-spotting on safari, the team moved on to Ndhiwa where they stayed in Team Kenya’s eco-village Karibuni to visit a local school and meet some of those who have benefitted from Team Kenya's work. 

They also visited the offices of the Ndhiwa Community Empowerment and Development Project (NCEDP), which is supported by Team Kenya, to meet staff and receive a tour of the project’s resource centre. The NCEDP aims to develop a larger library for use by the local community, and our BMEc students are keen to contribute to this by sending relevant books to the centre as one of their first goals after establishing a Team Kenya society.

The next stop on the itinerary was Bongu Primary School, where they met with pupils and observed work being done by Team Kenya to improve the poor state of the facilities. The pupils were all very keen to learn despite being in taught in small, dark classrooms with dirt floors and no electricity.

A group of girls from the School shared their aspirations for careers in medicine and journalism, and spoke about how the charity had helped them by providing water tanks, toilets, a kitchen and secure storage for books and sanitary products.

The team then attended a ‘funday’ at Karibuni to meet girls from three local schools being supported by the charity. After participating in games and dancing (with much laughter at the team’s efforts to dance traditional Kenyan dances), the girls were presented with gifts including solar lamps. The afternoon concluded with football practice led by Team Kenya’s ‘Brighter Futures’ initiative, which aims to tackle School Related Gender Based Violence (SRGBV).

Before their return flights to the UK, the team travelled back to Nairobi to give a talk to local students at the Premier Academy about careers, Sussex courses and how to prepare for University. They then attended a open day at Uniserv’s Nairobi Office followed by a pre-departure event where they spoke about life in Brighton and promoted scholarship opportunities. 

At a workshop on fundraising and volunteering the team presented awards to the winner and runner-up of a student video competition organised by Arena Kenya and the University of Sussex. 

The trip concluded with a seminar by Julie at Strathmore University on migration, poverty and development, drawing on her work in Ethiopia, Ghana and Zimbabwe.

What do the team say about their experience?

Halima Ali Akbar, who studies BSc International Business (with a professional placement year) said:

"My visit to Kenya was very overwhelming - I loved every single moment, even if I did have some difficulties it was nothing compared to the many amazing things I experienced. 

"I was happy seeing how much Team Kenya helped pupils at the schools we visited, but on the other hand it made me upset seeing that even with improvement the situation of the schools and students are not great and this is because they need more help from more people. Visiting the village made me realise that nothing is impossible, all we need is hard work and determination!

"I played football with some of the kids and they love playing, despite the fact that some of them don't even have proper shoes they kept playing without complaining. This showed how motivated they are and they all love Team Kenya because it gives them the opportunity to play, study and make a change in their lives."

Julie Litchfield, Senior Lecturer in Economics, commented: 

"What an amazing adventure we all had and what a privilege to be part of the BMEc team supporting Team Kenya. We didn't all make it to the top of Mount Kenya but we all pushed ourselves far beyond anything we've done previously, and it was well worth the freezing hail, the high altitude and the physical and mental effort to be able to walk on the mountain and enjoy the stunning landscape and views.

"We faced different challenges during our visit to Ndhiwa. Meeting the staff and talking to mentors and students who are supported by Team Kenya gave us insights into the reality of rural poverty and the difficult decisions that all NGOs have to make about which people and which projects to support.

"We left Kenya humbled not just by the mountain but by the dignity and determination of everyone we met along the way."

Juliet Williams (AKA Captain Williams), Student Experience Officer, remarked:

“I am so proud of every member of the team, of their remarkable determination, resilience and commitment to the charity.

“I left a piece of my heart in Ndhiwa after meeting the girls on the funday and I believe that the trip ignited in all of us a passion to continue to support Team Kenya in the future.

“I want to say a huge, no massive, ‘thank you’ to BMEc and to every single person who donated and supported us along the way.”

Read more about the trip on the team's blog

What's next?

The team are planning a presentation on the impact of their trip and how the funds they have raised will go to help communities in Kenya. 

Students will be establishing a Team Kenya Society to encourage others to get involved in future trips and fundraising activities for the society. 

About the charity

Since being founded in 2008, Team Kenya have built a strong relationship with the community in Ndhiwa and the Ndhiwa Community Empowerment and Development Project (NCEDP). Team Kenya work in partnership with NCEDP and together we have transformed the lives of over 5,000 children and their families in Ndhiwa.

How can I donate?

Donate now via the team's JustGiving page

How can I get involved in fundraising for Team Kenya? 

If you're a BMEc student or member of staff who would like to join future fundraising activities for Team Kenya, please get in touch with the BMEc Student Experience team:

bmec.studentexperience@sussex.ac.uk