Raisin' Rwanda

Raisin Rwanda is a project which started with an idea I had on holiday in Cornwall with my family in 2005. I was sat on top of a cliff with Ella (my oldest) and the plan of taking a group of young people on a walk along the coastal path of Cornwall materialised. As many folks know I love taking young people on activities outdoors.

The initial idea quickly developed into a sponsored walk for a charity. I was already devising my dream team of young people together who would be up for the challenge.

The idea continued to develop. The project was going to raise funds for a charity overseas that we would then go and visit and work with. The options for the overseas charity were very few. Due to my personal connections it was either Romania or Rwanda. Rwanda got the nod. I felt that it would be more beneficial for the young people and the chosen charity in Rwanda.

The Raisin’ Rwanda project is one of Knights Youth Centre most exciting, dramatic and challenging programmes to date. The aim of Raisin Rwanda is to support Association Mwana Ukundwa (A.M.U.). A.M.U. work with orphaned and vulnerable children, many of whom are HIV infected.

 The Raisin Rwanda project consisted of two stages:

Stage 1

Knights Youth Centre to conduct a sponsored walk 100 miles along the Western coast path of Cornwall (Trevose Head to Lands End) over a period of five days in September 2006 with a group of five young people. The five young people will be supported by two experienced workers. The plan was to raise in the region of £7000  which will be given to enable A.M.U. to develop their work

The walk provided valuable experience for the young people such as sleeping in tents, cooking on camp stoves, preparing your food for the daily walks, working together as a team and improving the self confidence of the individuals taking part.

 Stage 2

During March 2007, Knights Youth Centre took the same group of young people who participated in the sponsored walk to visit and work with A.M.U in Rwanda for 9 days. This provided the young people with a unique and once in a life time experience, but also see the difference all the money they raised has made.