Chorley woman raising funds for Kenyan humanitarian trip

2:59pm Wednesday 14th May 2008

Comments (3)   Have your say »

A Chorley woman is raising funds to embark on a year-long humanitarian trip to strife torn Kenya.

Joanna Bayley, 22, is to undertake the voluntary placement in the east African country as part of the humanitarian aid relief effort which is taking place after the country was hit by violence following a disputed general election.

The Nottingham University graduate, who lives with her parents Katie and Michael near Botany Bay, Chorley, said: "Travel of this nature has been in the news recently following the death of Rebecca Logie in Ecuador but it is important that young people are not discouraged from undertaking voluntary work overseas as it plays a vital role in third world development."

Joanna needs to raise more than £6,000 to pay for the cost of the trip.

"International development is a passion of mine and it is my firm belief that we have a moral responsibility to our neighbours in the global village we live in," she added.

Last year, Joanna, went on a similar trip to Kenyan city of Nairobi to complete her Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. She said: "When watching the news earlier this year and seeing the events in Kenya, it was all too easy to be shocked and yet the following moment to turn off the television and return to my everyday life.

"But watching some of the world's most impoverished people fall victim to the greed and corruption of wealthy politicians left me with a sense of injustice.

"I wanted to help despite my lack of financial ability to do so."

In this year's trip, Joanna, who has received a £100 donation from the Chorley Lions Club, is hoping to work with two charities ICROSS (International Community for Relief of Starvation and Suffering) and Action for Children in Conflict in community projects in the slums of Nairobi.

Joanna added: "Volunteering will provide me with an opportunity to make a positive contribution to something I believe in and help me to increase understanding of development issues and gain first-hand experience of working in the field."

Anyone wishing to help to raise funds for Joanne's trip should click the link below.