WELCOME TO THE WEBSITE OF 'FRIENDS OF SIKINGA', A LOCAL CHARITY IN BURNLEY, UK, SUPPORTING PEOPLE IN SIKINGA, KENYA.
Friends of Sikinga (FOS) was started in 2001 by Canon Richard Spurin, who, along with his wife Pat, had lived amongst the people in this part of Kenya and established the Christian Church there. We are based in Burnley, Lancashire, and from our inception have offered financial and other support to the people of Sikinga, aswell as encouraging people from the UK to visit and see the 'real' rural Kenya for themselves.
Our main area of activity at the moment is in providing financial support to a number of children at school in Sikinga. Many of those we support are orphaned as a result of AIDS and therefore cared for by a grandmother or other relative. Whilst education in Kenya is 'free', books, uniforms and many other things are to be paid for, and without help many of the children, whose parents' incomes barely cover the cost of food, could not participate.
We have to raise £4500 every year just to maintain our existing level of support. We have a small committee in Burnley who take virtually no expenses. All of the money raised goes direct to Sikinga where it is administered by a local committee there. There are no middlemen, paid employees etc.
Take a little time and explore our website; find out more about FOS and what we do. Look at the pictures. Get to know more about the village and its people. And if you want to know more, feel free to ask.
