Festive spirit alive and well

Members of staff and other generous supporters donated about £1,500 for the charity appeal, of which about £740 came from a quiz night held at the Medway Campus on December 2.

The following week, a percentage of the proceeds from a meal at the College’s Pavilion Restaurant – which followed a student performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – was also donated.

Meanwhile, a staff Christmas fair on December 10 added more than £200 to the grand total, which will continue to increase throughout the year as other events are held.

The cash, which will be matched by the College’s board of governors, will be used to fund a return trip to the Melon Education Centre and orphanage in Nakuru, Kenya, in late April/early May.

A team of students first visited the centre in May last year, when they built a security fence, taught English to the children and delivered sacks of clothing.

Lecturer Dan Hodges, who is co-ordinating the charity drive, said: “These kids have nothing and don’t expect to have anything either, so it’s nice to be able to do something for them.

“Over Christmas a local businessman visited the centre and gave each child one bottle of Coca-Cola each, and they were all so excited because of it. When you compare that to what we all get for Christmas, it really puts things into perspective.”

Anyone who would like to donate money, unwanted mobile telephones or clothing – particularly football equipment and strips – to the appeal should email dan.hodges@midkent.ac.uk.

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