Parents in Kenya, just as in other countries, want to do the best for their children, including giving them the best possible education. Both the Vanessa Grant School (for children with special needs) and the Vanessa Grant Girls’ School seek to admit children without regard to their parents’ ability to pay the costs involved. Where the parents lack the resources to meet those costs, we try to help by providing a bursary or finding a sponsor. You can make a general donation to the bursary funds through the How to Donate page. This will enable us to direct support to children as it is most needed from year to year. If you would like to support a particular child or children through their school career, you can join our sponsor-a-child scheme which is described below.
Children at the Vanessa Grant School
All the children who need sponsorship at the Vanessa Grant School come from needy families. The fees that parents are required to pay are contributions to the living costs of the children rather than for their education, because that is paid for by the Kenyan Government. The cost to the parents of having a child at the school for a year is Ksh15,000 which is only approximately £110, US$160, Aus$150 at current exchange rates. In reality, few families can afford this and we try to find support for them. It is one of the principles of accepting a child that the parents contribute to the best of their ability. Some pay what they can, others bring foodstuffs from their garden or contribute a sheep or a goat.
The cost of sponsoring a child at the Vanessa Grant School for one year is just £110, US$160, Aus$150. For this remarkably small amount of money you can potentially transform the life of a handicapped child.
We ask that, whenever possible, sponsors commit to support a child all the way through the school (typically from three to nine years, depending on their age when admitted).
You will receive information from the school about the child you are sponsoring every year until the child leaves the school. At this point you will be informed about what the next steps for the child are and there may be opportunities to support their continued education and training at the Rongai Vocational Training Centre or elsewhere. To the extent that the parents of a sponsored child are also able to contribute to the school, the additional funds will be used to buy extra resources and improve the school’s facilities.
Girls at the Vanessa Grant Girls’ School
The aim of the governors of the Vanessa Grant Girls’ School is to be able to admit girls with the greatest potential to benefit from the education offered, regardless of financial means. This is only possible for many girls if parents can be offered financial support through bursaries or sponsorship.
The annual boarding fees at the Vanessa Grant Girls’ School are only £720, US$1000, Aus$980. This covers all the educational and boarding costs, so for less than £14, US$20, Aus$19 per week you can open up a world of opportunities for a Kenyan girl and her family. You educate a girl and you educate a family.
Educational continuity is essential, so we ask that sponsors commit to supporting a girl through all four years of her secondary schooling. You will receive information from the school about the pupil you are sponsoring every year until she leaves the school. She will also be encouraged to tell you about her progress and her plans for the future.
How to become a sponsor
If you would like to sponsor a child, please complete a Sponsor a Child form, giving your contact details and email address. The form should be returned to: Johnny Onslow (Trustee) e-mail: jeonslow@fishingfliesandlures.com
A representative from the projects will then get in touch with you to confirm the sponsorship and give you information about the child to be sponsored.
If you do not have access to email, please send your completed Sponsor a Child form to:
The Vanessa Grant Trust
Alastair Hunter
Address to be added.
Sponsorship donations can be made through any of the Vanessa Grant Trusts using any of the methods on the How to Donate page. When making contributions, please give your own name and the name of the child that you are supporting each time, to make it easier for the trustees to match donor to beneficiary.
About the Trusts
The Vanessa Grant Trusts, a group of independent charities in different countries, collaborate to bring educational opportunities to children and young adults in rural Kenya. The role of the Trusts is to support the various educational projects, not to run them. We leave this to the trustees and staff in Kenya. Trustees of the Vanessa Grant Trusts visit the projects regularly to see how the money raised is being spent and to discuss future plans and funding needs. There is also frequent contact by email.
The Trusts are active in the UK, Kenya, Australia and the USA and welcome donations from all over the world. The set-up in each country is described below. For contact details, see the Contact Us page.
Management of funds
Each of the Trusts maintains its own bank accounts into which donations are paid (in Australia this is through Rotary Australia World Community Services). Larger amounts are placed on deposit to earn interest until they are sent to support the projects in Kenya. The Trusts receive requests for funds from the trustees and staff of the projects to support particular developments and activities. These requests are assessed to make sure that they are worthwhile and an appropriate use of the charitable funds raised. Once satisfied, the trustees remit the funds to the projects in Kenya. All funds are accounted for formally and effective financial controls are in place.
The money sent to support individual children (see Sponsor a Child page) is paid into their school fee account and will be tracked through the school’s own accounting system.
In the UK
The Vanessa Grant Trust is a UK registered charity (no. 1098865), registered with the Charity Commission.
The UK trustees are: Alastair Hunter, Anna Louise Thrupp, Nigel Snape, Angela Snape
In Kenya
The Vanessa Grant School Trust is established under Kenya law as a charitable trust.
The Kenyan trustees are: Hamish Grant, Nigel Shaw, Teresa Orme-Smith, Johnny Onslow
In Australia
In Australia, money is raised and transferred to Kenya through Rotary Australia World Community Services.
The VGT contact in Australia is Nicola Darling (Vanessa’s sister).