Member Article

Businesses urged to fill the Orange Bus, in Kenyan appeal

North East businesses are being urged to support a Kenyan-based learning resource centre as digital agency Orange Bus embarks on a gruelling charity mission.

In less than four weeks a crack team of five from the Newcastle-based agency will depart for Kenya to raise money, awareness and conquer a mountain.

It is appealing to local organisations to assist by donating equipment such as laptops, cameras, stationery and even football shirts that will support Youth Enterprise projects in Ndhiwa in Western Kenya to help develop young people’s business and ICT skills through its partner charity Team Kenya.

Orange Bus is also hoping local business will donate money, as they have set a target to raise £4,000 for the charity, by sponsoring its employees who will climb the gruelling peaks of Mount Kenya before spending time in the village to volunteer their services for the charity.

Orange Bus director Mike Parker, who is taking part in the expedition, said: “We’d like to give local companies the opportunity to help Team Kenya, a small local charity, run entirely by volunteers, who work tirelessly to improve the lives of many in an area that suffers the highest rates of HIV/AIDS in the whole of Kenya, and where life expectancy is just 40-years-old.

“Our support originated from an open competition we held a few years ago for charities to bid for the prize of our time and expertise to help them create an online presence. Team Kenya was the winner and so we built them a website, YouTube and Flickr channel, we teamed them up with local schools, and are now raising money for them with this trip to Kenya.

“The charity is in desperate need of money and equipment to help the villagers lead better lives, so we are hoping local businesses will join us in donating any business equipment they no longer require such as pens, calculators, memory sticks and mobile phones. I’ve also heard football shirts, footballs and trainers would go down a treat. We’re aiming to help raise awareness and money, so please give what you can to help.”

The Orange Bus team will embark on their journey to climb Mount Kenya on March 23rd. Standing at 5,200m, covered in snow and ice, with an expected temperature of -8°C the team hope to reach the summit on27 March at sunrise, which should form the highlight of an estimated 17-hour day of climbing.

The team will then head straight to Homa Bay on the shores of Lake Victoria, Ndhiwa to recuperate, soak up the local culture and put their skills to further good use by helping with social enterprise activities at Karibuni Eco cottages.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .