Our volunteers once again teamed up with the community and managed to not only complete the foundations for four classrooms but also make 450 more blocks for the walls. Our block making went from tentative first steps to a super-effective team operation within days. As the blocks were being made the concrete foundations were mixed and poured for the whole building. After the foundations dried for three days we managed to put in three courses of blocks before time overtook us. We were joined at the end of the project by Crista Cullen, Friends From Ireland board member and volunteer, and recent proud winner of an Olympic Gold Medal for Team GB in the Rio Olympics.

It was a special visit and a real thrill for the local kids who were flabbergasted by her fluent Swahili. The team also took on some work in the Danissa Clinic, installing ceilings in the little maternity wards. The clinic staff had collected enough funding through donations to complete one ceiling but Friends From Ireland agreed to do two ceilings and continue our partnership with Oscar and Christine who work so hard in such challenging conditions. It is hoped that in the future Friends From Ireland will match the fundraising efforts of the Dispensary as it continues to see an increase in demand for its services.