African adventure to help orphans

PA 135/10 A remarkable school in a remote village in Kenya is changing the lives of local children thanks to the hard work of a University of Nottingham Alumnus Laureate, a Nottinghamshire primary school and staff and students from the University's School of English Studies. The Upendo Junior School was founded by Dr Peter Masibo Lumala when he returned to his home village of Kiminini in Kenya after completing his PhD at the University in 2007. He and his wife converted their home into a charitable school after they were shocked to find their community vastly changed because of poverty, civil war and HIV/AIDS. Three years on, the school, called Upendo after the Swahili word for 'love', has expanded and now has eight teachers and more than 80 children most of whom are orphans. Dr Masibo Lumala established an active twinning programme with Wadsworth Fields Primary School in Stapleford, Nottingham and also with his alma mater, the University's School of English Studies which has raised money to pay for a teacher's salary at the school. Fundraising by both 'schools' has helped Upendo's expansion - Now, with electricity finally installed, a team from the University is going out to Kenya on June 27 to bring ICT expertise, laptops and to help set up broadband internet connection for the staff and pupils. Among the party are two English Studies students who will spend two weeks teaching at the school as part of their work experience to apply for postgraduate teacher training.