Hello Everyone, As many, if not all, of you know, Pippa and Erica set up Kiota as a fund raising arm to support Tanzanian NGO KIWOHEDE (Kiota - Swahili for 'nest' ie safe haven Women's Health and Development) in 2003. Pippa and Erica had volunteered there when free from their placement and were so impressed by the support offered to extremely disadvantaged girls that they vowed once home to raise much needed funds on KIWOHEDE's behalf.

17 years on, the fund raising continues and now provides teacher salaries, equipment and more at the KIWOHEDE Open School, Bunju, set up by KIWOHEDE to provide education for young people - still mostly girls -  who otherwise would not be eligible for state secondary schooling.

Coronavirus has reached Tanzania, and Kiota wants to offer support. Kiota's largest annual fundraiser, litter picking at Glastonbury Festival, has been cancelled, meaning a huge shortfall to make up, at a time of changing needs. I have decided to do a 2.6 Challenge - skipping every day for 2.6 minutes for 26 days - to try to raise some extra money for the students. Will you be a home hero and support (or join) me?

Skipping is not part of my everyday and having practised a little, I can report on its aerobic qualities!! I hope by the end of the challenge the 2.6 minutes will be continuous skipping and I won't be relieved to have stepped on the rope at 30 second intervals.

I pledge to Kiota £2.60 for each day I skipped for 2.6 mins and will pay double that amount if I miss a day.

Currently Tanzania is six weeks behind the UK, but with only a fraction of the large scale national infrastructure, many of the students supported at Kiota/KIWOHEDE are in a highly vulnerable position. Many of the preventative measures we all have access to here in the UK, are unfortunately a luxury for these students in Tanzania. Without easy access to running water and soap, the students and their families will not be able to safeguard themselves against the virus. A lack of technological resource means that children who are already at a great disadvantage will have their education and social safety net completely disrupted.

Any funds that I raise will allow Kiota to respond to emerging needs and support students in a number of ways such as providing:

- soap and a bucket with a tap for running water in households

- sanitary pads

- safe drinking water to protect against diseases such as cholera that are caused by contaminated water

- phones and internet data for staff and students so they can keep in touch remotely

- emergency food and cooking fuel for households to keep them healthy during this period and

- masks and sanitizer in case of illness within households.

Perhaps I'll post a few photos so that you can have a laugh!

H

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Some background information:

Kiota is a kitchen table UK charity, working with KIWOHEDE, a Tanzanian organisation working for the rights, health and development of women and children in Tanzania. We are currently supporting the education of 120 students at the KIWOHEDE Open School. As well as providing secondary education, the school aims to prevent early marriage, unwanted pregnancy, child prostitution, dangerous child labour and gang involvement, and targets those most at risk of abuse and hazardous labour. The Kiota - supported KIWOHEDE Open School has had to close temporarily due to coronavirus, and we are working hard to support students and staff through this very difficult time.

The 2.6 Challenge has been set up to support UK charities. The timing, and idea behind challenges relating to 2.6 or 26, is because the London Marathon (26.2m) was due to be held on 26th April.