Volunteering trip to help rural Kenyan villages

I am raising funds to attend a month long volunteering trip to Kenya, where I will take part in three to four projects, which will impact directly on the local rural Kenyan communities over a period of four weeks, from the start of at least one project through to the completion of at least one other.

My name is Dylan and I am 14 years old, and just about to start in year 10 at high school and I have been offered the opportunity through Camps International, to work with the communities in rural Kenya to help rebuild and improve their local environment.

I play rugby in our local rugby union team and in my spare time I volunteer at the R.D.A. (riders for the disabled association) to help provide therapy to young children through interaction with the horses and ponies.

I really would like the opportunity to make a difference and to get involved in helping those in need, I think it will help shape my future life choices, whilst helping to make an impact on others and improve their standard of living.

The full trip cost is £3980, however i am initially trying to raise the 38% (£1500) 'Direct Impact Funds' in order to secure my place, if I am lucky to raise anything above this amount, it will help to cover my travel costs.
The 38% Direct Impact Funds will go to the local villages/ communities and to the resources that I and the rest of the volunteers will be using.
I will need to make staged payments in April 2020, September 2020 and May 2021, before going on the trip in the summer of 2021.

Over the 4 weeks I’ll be working on 3 to 4 community projects.
A number of past projects have included building toilets; improving natural water holes for elephants, lions & wildlife/ installing anti-elephant fences that deter elephants from entering farms & properties (so the farmers don't shoot or injure them); planting indigenous trees to safeguard the future for the wonderfully diverse animals; building village houses; tackling erosion; renovating schools which are in constant disrepair because of seasonal flooding, which also threatens the old traditional building foundations and makes them collapse quicker.

In Muhaka village, with a population of 20,000 people, there is extreme poverty, so the local communities cannot pay for the repairs or upgrades, my participation can make this become a reality.

Camps International Ltd have been able to create initiatives alongside locals and oversea students to promote a peaceful co-existence between communities and the local wildlife to help safeguard all their futures, I would be honoured to be a small part of that.

This support will mean that I will be able to go on this expedition and rather than just being a tourist, i will be able to directly experience helping people improve their surroundings, make human connections that are meaningful and helpful that will actually make an impact.
My everyday life is so very different to those in the villages in Kenya and i truly think that i can make a difference, that it will be extremely worthwhile and life changing, with experiences that I can carry with me for the future.

Thank you for taking your time to read this.