A SMALL charity is hoping its annual Christmas Fair on the outskirts of Petersfield will help Kenyan school children access the internet.
Trustees of the Watoto Trust live in or around Petersfield, and the fair is the charity’s biggest annual fundraiser.
Formed in 2005, its objective is to help Kenyan youngsters reach their potential through education, and so escape poverty.
To date the trust has built classrooms, funded pupil’s education and provided school equipment, among other projects.
But next year it is hoping to help fund an ambitious project at schools in four isolated villages in the Naimina Enkiyio Forest on the edge of the Rift Valley in south west Kenya.
The schools focus on early development and primary education, and are under resourced, under staffed and inadequately equipped with little or no access to modern technology.
Watoto trustee Sarah Green of Petersfield said: “The focus will be to provide an IT teacher and a mobile IT teaching unit equipped with equipment and tablets that can be rostered among the early learning and primary schools in the four communities.
“Watoto needs to fund the teacher, the technology and a vehicle to transport everything to the communities through the difficult and remote terrain.
“It’s a big project for a small charity like ours, and the Christmas Fair is one of our biggest fundraising events each year.”
More than 50 stalls will be at the fair in the Tithe Barn at Ditcham, and the £4 entry includes a cup of tea and slice of cake.
“They will be offering,” says Sarah, “a fabulous mix of goods from beautiful jewelry and accessories, toys, clothes, soft furnishings, home ware, furniture, Christmas gift ideas, and a delicious selection of food.
“And all the stalls sell affordable brands so you can do all of your Christmas shopping under one roof and find the perfect and unique gift for everyone.”
The fair runs from Tuesday, November 8, 9am to 5pm, to Wednesday, November 9, 9am to 4pm.
Proceeds will be split between the Watoto Trust, the Rosemary Foundation – the Petersfield based Hospice at Home service – and St Catherine’s Building Fund, preserving the historic church at Cocking.