This project is based in a village between Busia and Bungoma in Western Kenya. It was started by Canon Richard Spurin and is now looked after by his wife Pat, daughter Helen, a committee in Burnley and another in Sikinga. Canon Richard and Pat Spurin have been associated with this area for more than 40 years, living there in the 60's and 70's and revisiting frequently. 

The people are mostly subsistence farmers, with limited access to clean water, electricity and other aspects of modern living. But there are many positive aspects to life there; a deep community spirit, projects for self-help, such as putting up their own school buildings, having cows owned co-operatively and working together in the Church.

Like many parts of Africa, Sikinga has been affected by the AIDS epidemic. This has caused the death of many young men, the principal wage earners, and their wives in some cases. Children have been orphaned and are themselves sometimes HIV positive. In Sikinga such children are cared for by the extended family, often the grandparents, for whom the burden of school fees, uniform and general care is a great burden. Friends of Sikinga seeks to pay fees for some of these children.

We now only have a small number in Primary School, which costs about £50 per year, because we want to continue to support the ones who have now gone through Primary School into Secondary. On the whole we don't advocate individual sponsorship, but put all the money into one pot and share it out. We would love to be able to do more!

As well as the education aspect, it is possible to arrange for someone from UK to go to Sikinga, live in the small guest house which Richard had built and share in village life. You would have to meet all the travel expenses and board and lodging but would be looked after by the Mukhwana family and have an incredible experience in the midst of Kenya, far from the tourist trail!

SEE OUR "NEWS FROM SIKINGA" PAGE FOR THE LATEST FROM THE VILLAGE

Unless otherwise stated all photographs are by David James, who owns the copyright, and are reproduced with his permission. 

Friends of Sikinga is a charity registered in UK.  Registered number:1098533