Mr and Mrs Benbow Make a Special Delivery to Bluebells School in Kenya

During the October half term, Mr and Mrs Benbow seized the opportunity to travel to Kenya, aiming to put discontinued school uniforms to good use.

With personal ties to Kenya through Mr Benbow’s sister, who is the Deputy Head at The Banda School in Nairobi, they were connected with Bluebells School in Watamu, a coastal town in Kenya. Bluebells, which has received support from The Banda School in building a library through book donations, was in dire need of uniforms and other resources.

The Head of Bluebells, Mwana, works tirelessly to encourage girls to attend school, often visiting homes to persuade families of the importance of education for their daughters. The donated dresses, many of which were brand new, were seen as a way to make the girls feel special and equal to the boys in their educational journey.

Paul Fisher from Direct Clothing, the supplier of the dresses, generously waived the cost, allowing the school to donate approximately 150 dresses, skirts, and shirts. About two-thirds of these were brand new, with the remainder being second-hand items kindly donated by parents. The logistical challenge of transporting the 40kg of clothing was met with creativity and determination! Mr and Mrs Benbow, along with their children, Eli and Freddie, managed to fit the items into one bag, with an additional 10kg being carried as hand luggage.

Mr Benbow shared his thoughts on the initiative: “We are thrilled to see these dresses go to such a deserving cause. It’s wonderful to know that one small gesture can make a significant difference in the lives of these girls and their education.”

This initiative not only provided much-needed uniforms to the girls at Bluebells but also reinforced the importance of education and equality. The school community at Hazlegrove, along with Direct Clothing, demonstrated how local actions can have a global impact, bringing hope and opportunity to those in need.