Vet Lends A Helping Hand In Kenya

Ruth Vernon and children Ruth Vernon, technical services manager for Eurovet Animal Health, has just returned from Kenya where she took part in a volunteer project to help children and has been thanking the veterinary industry for their contributions. The project was run through the ITFC Charitable Trust (the charitable partner of Ipswich Town Football Club) with the aim of raising funds for the charity’s work in the local Ipswich area, whilst also providing volunteers with the opportunity to work for 10 days on local community projects in developing areas of Kenya. Trip participants had the opportunity to work with projects such as football coaching, teaching in schools and community work with the children. Ruth also received considerable support from animal health companies and veterinary organisations in the UK who donated pens, pencils and paper, as well as BSAVA or BCVA delegate conference bags, which were given to the children to use as schoolbags. The group also took clothes, shoes and replica football kits to give to the children. In all, twenty-one volunteers from all walks of life were involved and on arrival separate groups went to two different schools. Ruth described what happened next, “When we got to our school, we realised we could achieve a lot more by refurbishing the children’s classrooms, which to be honest we wouldn’t keep animals in here in the UK. Two of our group members had raised more money than required for the trip and so we also funded 30 new desks for the children. We repaired the walls and floors, with the help of a local plasterer. Then we whitewashed the walls, made new blackboards and because the group were all keen football fans, the classrooms are now all painted blue & white!” Ruth said the visit had made a big impression on her, “The trip was a great experience, and it makes you realise how lucky we are here in the UK. Just to have running water and electricity makes such a difference and neither school we were placed at had either of those luxuries.” If you would like to support the ITFC programme and Ruth’s efforts, you can make a donation at http://www.justgiving.com/Ruth-Vernons-KenyanAdventure.

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