Friends of Londiani celebrate 10 years of Community Partnership The eighth annual Kenya Ball, in aid of the charity Friends of Londiani (FOL), was launched on 20.02.12. It will take place on Saturday April 21st 2012 in the Maryborough House Hotel & Spa, Cork. This ball is one of the main fundraising events for FOL who support sustainable community development programmes that improve living conditions in the areas of health, education and water in Kenya. During 2012, FOL are celebrating 10 years of Community Partnership with the people of the Kipkelion District of Kenya. The FOL story began in 2002 when a group of women from the Girl Guiding associations in Ireland went to Kenya on a service project. From there, support for the Kenyan community grew in Ireland and over the next 10 years, 17 more groups of volunteers took part in Harambee projects, together with the local communities to make improvements to their living conditions. (Harambee is a Kiswahili word meaning ‘working together’). During the past 10 years, programmes have been developed in the three key areas of Health, Education and clean Water provision. Partnerships have evolved in Kenya with the local Ministries for Health, Education and Water & Sanitation. And in Ireland links have been established between Mayo General Hospital and Londiani District Hospital. In June and in August this year, plans are in place for more volunteers to travel to Kenya to work on Harambee projects with FOL. The work can range from running life skills trainings, business training, working on the healthy schools programme, improvements to water and sanitation in schools, provision of clean water, for example by rain water harvesting tanks and many more wide and varied tasks. A full training programme is provided to all volunteers and no prior experience or specific skills are necessary. The Kenya Ball is a very popular event for volunteers, friends and supporters of FOL and given the 10 year celebrations this year, it will be even more of a special occasion. The chairperson of FOL, Maria Kidney, says “I am looking forward to a great night, reuniting with volunteers from previous Harambees, celebrating the achievements of the past 10 years and having the opportunity to thank and acknowledge all our volunteers, supporters and sponsors”. The invited guests this year will include Her Excellency Catherine Muigai Mwangi, the Kenyan Ambassador to Ireland and Cllr. Terry Shannon, Lord Mayor of Cork. Maryborough House Hotel, known for it’s fine cuisine, will provide a 3 course meal on the night and entertainment at the ball will be provided by the all girl band – She’s Electric – followed by DJ for dancing into the small hours. Tickets cost €75 each and are available through the FOL office in Midleton or online on the FOL website. For further information please contact: Rose Hennessy, Friends of Londiani Office Telephone 021 4621748 or 086 8744612