Agents at Co-operative Travel are raising money to fund the building of a water tank at a school in Kenya.
The travel retail division of Midcounties Co-operative began fundraising for the Kiliku School project in 2018 and agents aim to reach their target of £8,754 this autumn.
The project is being run by travel industry charity Just a Drop, and the tank will provide year-round, clean water for the 336 pupils at the school, which is in an arid, rural area.
Agents have held silent auctions, cycle-athons, cake sales and coffee mornings across their network of 58 branches, and more events this summer are expected to help them reach their target.
Co-operative Travel’s head office team organised silent auctions in July 2018 and April 2019, which raised more than £3,500 for the project.
Auction prizes included flights with Thomas Cook, a crate of prosecco, a cruise for two on MSC’s Bellissima ship, a luxury Co-operative Food hamper and a Fortnum & Mason afternoon tea for two.
Natalie Turner, head of branches for Co-operative Travel, said: “As a co-operative, making a difference to the local communities, both at home and in the countries that we send our holidaymakers to, is really important. Being able to see what a positive impact our fundraising efforts will have on a school community in Kenya makes us extremely proud.
“Funding for the school’s new water tank means that the children will have sufficient water to drink and cook with.
“The children will be able to spend more time in school as they will not be losing time due to illness or through having to fetch water.
“The school will be able to use the money they were previously spending on buying water, when their own supply ran out, for new classrooms, a laboratory, or for growing food, and hygiene issues will be reduced, leading to better long-term health for the children.”
The Co-operative Travel branches have been tasked with raising a further £50 each for the project by end of August.