Coronavirus has reached Tanzania, and our largest annual fundraiser at Glastonbury Festival has been cancelled. Team Kiota are doing the 2.6 Challenge so that we can respond. Will you be a home hero and join us?

Currently Tanzania is six weeks behind the UK, but with only a fraction of the large scale national infrastructure, many of the students that we support at Kiota 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 our students in Tanzania. Without easy access to running water and soap, our students and their families will not be able to safeguard themselves against the virus. A lack technological resource means that children who are already at a great disadvantage will have their education and social safety net completely disrupted.

By taking part in the #TwoPointSixChallenge on behalf of Kiota, we want to ensure that our students aren’t pushed back to the starting line again.

We are coming up with our challenge ideas, something home-based, around the numbers 26 or 2.6 to do on 26th April. The UK’s mass participation event industry has come together to create The 2.6 Challenge, a nationwide fundraising campaign launched in response to COVID-19 to Save the UK's Charities. It is focused around the date and number of miles of the postponed London Marathon, a 26.2 mile event that was due to be held on 26th April.

Zoe, a Kiota Glastonbury volunteer, will live stream a 2.6 hour gig from home.

Hilary, trustees Pippa and Laura's mum, is thinking of skipping for 2.6 minutes (maybe every day for 26 days!).

Edmund, a Kiota supported teacher, is joining us from Tanzania.

Claire Mawer, previous Peak District Challenger and Glastonbury volunteer, is thinking up a challenge too.

Will you join us, or support us?

We would love to see your creativity and in return we’ll keep you updated on how you’re making a difference. Your donations will allow us 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.

We know this is an incredibly difficult time for a great many of you and we are so grateful for your support during this time.

With your support, we will transform lives.

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.