As we landed in Kenya the first thing to hit me was the heat. The second was the warmth and cordiality of the welcome. Even the passport control staff welcomed us with beaming smiles.

My home town of Newark isn’t an unhappy place. Yet, the problems and day to day frustrations experienced back in the UK pale when compared to those faced by young people and adults alike in Kenya.

I know this, because recently I made a moving journey to a school in the area with a charity, CHinK; Children in Kenya. I wanted to see first hand how a Westerner — and specifically someone in or near Lincolnshire — can help those dedicated to improving the lives of some of the world’s poorest young people.

“Jambo,” (hello) was a word that would be heard and used thousands of times over the next two weeks of our stay here, from the children at the school to strangers on the street — everybody’s face lights up with that one word.

Driving through Mombasa towards Mtwapa on the outskirts, I soon realised I was in a different world. People wheeling hand carts to move anything; water, wood, tyres and rubbish. Shops are just tin shacks, selling anything from second hand clothes to bed frames.

Children play in the streets with their toys; cars made out of water bottles with lids for wheels. With so little they learn to be so creative.

Monday came and it was time for school. I was feeling apprehensive, as I knew it was going to be an emotional day. The approach was bumpy. A dirt track, with mud shacks either side and then, out of nowhere, the CHinK School, an oasis in comparison. One tin building for the nursery classes and one in concrete; the latest investment, for the older children.

The children heard the car pull up. Juma, the head boy came running out, so excited to see Georgie, Roy and Chris — the founders of the organisation — again.

As we walked into the nursery classes we were welcomed with so many beaming smiles and giggles and they could not wait to sing the welcome song. The emotion is overwhelming. They are so happy with so little.

Many of the children live with grandparents or relatives as their parents have died from malaria or HIV and many of the children themselves have tested positive. But to see them you would never know. Their smiles never fade, but for me knowing they weren’t going home to a mum for a cuddle after a day at school was heartbreaking.

Each visit CHinK makes ensures each child receives two new pairs of pants and a new toothbrush, and all are measured for new uniforms as the ones they have are hanging off them like rags. CHinK help to provide the children with things that are taken for granted here in the UK and it really is the small things that make the difference.

Since becoming involved with the charity I had wondered how, out of all the children, the charity chose the ones that would be funded to go to the school, and I was about to find out. During each visit, CHinK go into the local community to find more children who would like to go to school.

Each one is added to the website in the hope that they will be sponsored  — for just £15 per month — which pays for porridge in the morning, beans & rice at lunch time (often the only food some will get), a uniform and tutoring.

We went to find the five children. I was so nervous of what to expect as we set off into what seemed like a jungle. The mud huts we visited were very basic but were in small clusters, which created lovely little communities. Everyone was so welcoming and so proud of their homes. We were invited into every one. In a strange way the way they live seemed so normal to me, how it should be. They have what they need and they are happy; luxuries are just not necessary.

I am, of course, not naïve. I know that some of the children lived in much worse conditions than the homes we visited; Six people sharing a mattress, whole families living in one room, raw sewage in the streets and serious illness.

As much as part of me wanted to see and experience everything, selfishly I knew I would be coming home and there were certain images I wanted to shield myself from, for fear of them haunting me.

To choose just five children is hard, but emotion has to be put to one side as it is the most needy child which will take the place. This is based on their age, whether they have parents, how many people share their hut or room and whether they have a mattress to sleep on or just the floor. Each CHinK sponsored child also receives a mattress.

Some sponsors give a little extra money to buy the children a little extra whilst we are here. As part of our visit, we went to a nearby market. We visited each class and asked them if they would like new shoes or a new dress for the girls or shorts and t-shirt for the boys. Of course, they all really wanted cake from the town’s bakery, but essentials must come first.

19 of us all piled into the eight seater people carrier and the giggles & screams of excitement started. Many have never even been in a car. Upon reaching the local market we all held hands and walked through the shacks until we reached a shoe stand.

Trying to fit 10 children with new shoes and dresses in 100 degree heat you may consider quite a task, but their giggles and smiles made it somewhat easy. The kids have a daily sleep, and so we returned to school.

The very last day with the children was amazing. There are three other charity-run schools in the area so an inter-school football tournament was arranged. The atmosphere was inspirational, the enthusiasm and tension electrifying.

The pitch was not a pitch as we knew it; just wasteland with scaffolding poles for goal posts and no lines to be seen. The girls lined the side chanting team songs for encouragement.

Everyday we found out a little bit more about the children, their lives and their stories; some heartwarming and some heartbreaking.

Hasimi, a little boy I had been spending time with, is one of the quieter ones. His mother is very sick with HIV and he has also been diagnosed as positive. I was told before we arrived he would just sit quietly and wouldn’t play, but now he laughs and plays with us and is like a completely different boy. But I always wonder what happens when he goes home?

There are times when it feels ignorance is bliss and you do want to bury your head in the sand because it is so sad, but when you see them face their hardships so bravely everyday, it’s impossible to think about walking away.

I only found out about CHinK eight months ago, but in that short time I have been inspired by the dedication of the UK’s Georgie, Roy and Chris, who spend every spare minute they have on trying to make a difference for more than 100children in Kenya.

I feel very lucky to have been allowed to go with them on their visit, giving me the opportunity to also try to make a difference. It feels a small drop in a very large ocean but a drop all the same.

Many tears have been shed during the trip and many more writing this but it is all in the hope that it will encourage people to help the charity and to want to share in such an amazing, and incredibly rewarding and worthwhile, experience. To find out more about Children in Kenya and how you could help, visit the charity’s website at www.chink.org.uk.

For more information about Lincolnshire Charity, pick up the latest edition of Lincolnshire Pride Magazine!