West Ham’s African Adventure 2015

  • by Bill Hawes
  • Filed: Tuesday, 30th September 2014

You may have seen an article on the club’s official web site recently regarding a volunteering trip to Kenya with the West Ham United Community Sports Trust and African Adventures.

I’ve been a West Ham fan for around 50 years, and a season ticket holder for the last three. About this time last year, I saw a similar post on the club’s site and decided that this was something I’d like to be part of.

The trip was in May this year, when another season ticket holder and I joined a party from Derby County travelling to Nakuru in South-West Kenya. We were assigned to Ungana Academy, a school in the slum area in the outskirts of the town for around 300 children.

When we walked into the school, we were greeted by a crowd of children with enormous smiles, all wanting to high five each of us in welcome. We met the staff and were soon divided into teams – some teaching or helping in the kitchen (a shack with an open fire for cooking).



Party member Diane in teaching mode


I joined the construction team. It was hard physical work, but it was rewarding to see the new classroom take shape, as well as enhancements to the kitchen and goalposts and a basketball hoop.

Between time spent working, we spent time with the children – playing football and other games, singing and dancing or sometimes just holding hands.

During our stay, we visited the homes of several of the children. These were in the slum area, with the entire family in most cases living in one room, with the sleeping area separated by a curtain. They had no running water, with a limited amount of clean water available to buy and carry back in containers.

As well as helping the projects in Kenya, the trip will also raise funds for West Ham United Community Sports Trust’s work in East London.



If the kids are United


Next year’s trip will take place from 23rd May until 7th June, spending 10 days working either in the Ungana Academy or one of the similar projects supported by African Adventures, with an option of a shorter trip returning on 31st May and spending 5 days in the project.

The trip also includes a Rift Valley Adventure Day, with a safari in the nearby Lake Nakuru National Park followed by a trip to the equator and Thomson Falls. Although taking second place in importance to the time spent in the school, this was certainly a great experience.
We are both going back next year, and we would love to get more Hammers fans along this year – we’re aiming for at least 10.

If you are interested in taking part, there will be a presentation on 6st October 2014 at 6:30pm in the Media Room at the Chadwell Heath Training Ground.

If you’d like to attend, you contact Lubna Alam at Lalam@westhamunited.co.uk or on 020 7473 7720. You can get more information here or KUMB members can contact me, Broomfield Hammer, via PM.

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