Northwich charity changing young lives in Africa reaches huge milestone

Under the Mango Tree, founded by Kingsmead residents Gordon and Angela Atkinson, is a charity dedicated to helping the Kambe Timboni School in eastern Kenya.

Since 2012, the couple has been building a school in the village and in the past month revealed that the first two classrooms have been completed and are being used daily, plus a toilet block with washing facilities has also been installed.

And now the couple are focussing on their next challenges which are providing mosquito nets to help prevent malarial diseases, and the start of creating a secondary school.

Gordon said: “Mosquitos and malarial diseases continue to be a problem in this rural area. This situation is at its worst during the two rainy seasons.

“As a charity concerned with the whole health and wellbeing of the children, we have worked hard to ensure that every child, and every teacher, connected with Timboni school has the minimum protection of an effective mosquito net.”

He added: “Since the formation of Under the Mango Tree in 2012 and the subsequent dedicated support given to the school children of Timboni, we are beginning to see flourishing children graduating from primary education. However, what happens next?

“From 2020, Under the Mango Tree will sponsor a girl from Timboni Primary through the four years of secondary education at Ribe Girls boarding school.”

He added: “Boarding at school is the only option for rural communities that do not have ready access to senior education.

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“Fees are around £500 per year and we are seeking to raise funds to secure the full four years education for each child, bringing the cost of the Scholarship to £2,000.

“This cost is impossible for local families to meet and without sponsorship, girls are unable to progress in education.”

If you would like to support Under the Mango Tree with their latest mission, visit underthemangotree.org.uk