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| 19 Aug 2026 | |
| Written by Maddie Willing | |
| United Kingdom | Kenya | |
| OB News |
This is the story of how our family came to know Footprints, a school and children's home in Kenya, and how the people we hoped to help ended up teaching us far more than we could ever have expected.
It began with an unexpected visit, grew through the kindness of our children, and became a family commitment that we hope will continue for many years.
We arrived wanting to give. We left deeply grateful for everything Footprints had given us in return.
In 2023, while visiting Kenya, I unexpectedly came across Footprints, also known as The Footprints Family at Mama Kerry's Place. Footprints is both a school and a children's home. It educates children from the surrounding community, provides boarding places for some pupils and gives a permanent home to children who have no family able to care for them.
I was humbled by what I saw and by the dedication of the people running it. Before leaving, I made a small donation. The visit stayed with me long after I returned home.
Several months later, I told my children about Footprints and the children I had met. Acie was particularly affected by the story. One day, while we were shopping, she was considering a handbag that cost a significant amount of money. As we discussed whether to buy it, the conversation returned to Footprints.
We asked ourselves whether we would really miss the handbag, and whether the same money could make a much greater difference to someone else's life. Acie decided that she no longer wanted it and asked for the money to be sent to Footprints instead.
But she did not want it to be just another general donation. She understood that donations are rightly used for food, shelter, clothing and other essentials, but she also felt that the children deserved an opportunity simply to have fun and enjoy being children.
Acie asked whether there was a water park near Footprints. A new one had recently opened, so we contacted Mama Kerry and arranged a special day out. We covered the cost of a bus, admission for the children, lunch and the journey home. The result was a day devoted entirely to laughter, excitement and happy memories.
That experience became the first real chapter in our family's relationship with Footprints.
When we planned to return to Kenya in 2026, both children wanted to do something meaningful for Footprints. Beaux decided to organise his own fundraiser at his school summer fete.
His idea was called 'How Wet Can I Get?'. A large wooden board was made with a cut-out for his head, and people paid £1 for two wet sponges to throw at him. The fete took place on one of the hottest days of the year, which could not have been more perfect. A queue quickly formed, and by the end of the event Beaux had raised £380.
He did not stop there. Beaux continued doing jobs, collecting donations and saving coins until his own total reached £500. Much of the money was in loose change, so we emptied his collection tin and took the coins to a Coinstar machine before travelling.
Acie also raised money, and Angela and I donated the balance. For this visit, our combined family contribution came to almost £2,000. It was not about who had given the most. It was about every member of the family contributing what they could.
The day before our visit, we had completed a journey of almost 24 hours to reach Kenya. We were all tired, but the following day was the children's final day of the school term and we could not miss it.
Patrick, who runs the school, collected us from our hotel at 8:30 in the morning. Our first stop was a local cash and carry, where we filled Patrick's pickup truck to the brim with food and supplies for the school and children's home. We bought milk, biscuits, maize flour, rice, soap, cooking oil and many other everyday essentials.
After leaving the main road, we travelled for around 10 kilometres along the bumpiest red dirt road we had ever experienced. For us, it was simply an uncomfortable ride. Patrick explained that many of the children walk that same road every day to get to school. That put the journey into a completely different perspective.
Footprints educates around 160 children. Some travel in each day, some board during term time, and around 30 orphaned children live there permanently.
When we arrived, the whole school was assembled and waiting for us. The children welcomed us with songs. Patrick explained what Beaux had done and showed everyone the pickup truck overflowing with food and supplies. The children sang and thanked both Beaux and Acie for their efforts.
Beaux handed out toys he had brought from England, while Angela and I distributed the school supplies we had purchased. The staff prepared lunch for us, and we were then invited into the assembly hall as guests of honour at the end-of-term show.
Children from each grade sang, danced and displayed their talents. Afterwards, we had the honour of presenting their end-of-term certificates.
By the final hour, the formalities had disappeared. Beaux and Acie played with the children on the field using the ball Beaux had brought for them. They laughed, played and made friends. There were no barriers and no awkwardness - just children enjoying each other's company.
Throughout the day, everyone kept thanking us for coming, for the fundraising and for the supplies. But the truth is that it is we who owe Footprints the biggest thank you.
They welcomed us into their school, their home and their community with extraordinary warmth. They gave our children an eye-opening lesson in the power of helping others, in gratitude and in humility. They showed them that happiness is not measured by what a person owns, and that kindness and friendship can cross every distance and difference.
As parents, we could not have created a classroom lesson as powerful as the one Beaux and Acie experienced that day. We arrived hoping to make a difference. In truth, Footprints changed us far more than we could ever change them.
Our family is now planning its biggest fundraising effort yet, with the aim of raising 1,000,000 Kenyan shillings for Footprints. We know that reaching the target will take hard work and the support of family, friends, schools, local businesses and the wider community.
But after meeting the children, seeing the work being done and understanding how carefully every contribution is used, we know exactly why it is worth doing.
What began with an unexpected visit in 2023 is becoming a lasting family commitment. The water-park day, Beaux's sponge fundraiser and our return to Footprints are not the end of the story. They are only the beginning.
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