BBC Radio Humberside's Sunday breakfast presenter Blair Jacobs visited Swanland School in Kenya in July of this year to cover the story of how the two unlikely communities of Swanland in East Yorkshire and a school in Nairobi have developed a strong link. The village of Swanland just outside of Hull couldn't be further removed from a slum area, known as Kawangware on the edge of Nairobi. Here, on a rough piece of land and built out of mostly corrugated iron 'Swanland Primary and High School' stands on the outskirts of this poverty stricken region. The school had started very informally in 1999 by the efforts of Pastor Hudson Kuyanda who had a vision for both a church and a school for this needy area. The links between the school in Nairobi and the community in East Yorkshire began in 2002 when John and Shirley Waters visited the school where their daughter Ruth had been teaching during a gap year. The basic lack of food and resources made such an impression on them that they volunteered to fund fresh water and one banana for every child during the school term. Previously the children, some of which are as young as 3, had to survive for a whole school day without food or drink. Back in the UK, John and Shirley's experience had an impact on their home church of St Barnabas in Swanland, Swanland Primary School and other individuals in the Swanland community, all of whom pledge financial help on a regular basis to Pastor Hudson and the school. From these donations food was able to be bought daily, and now every child receives two meals whilst at school, significantly more than they would actually have to eat at home. School uniforms and even a small computer suite have also been given to the school through this support. Four hundred pupils attend the school every day now. Here in the UK people would be appalled at the conditions which teachers and students endure. Two earth dug toilets for all the children and staff, a kitchen which consists of a fire outside with a few pots and pans and make-shift classrooms with hardly any teaching materials and resources. Despite all of this the staff and children all seem to be grateful for just being there. They all hope for a better future regardless of the hardships which they confront daily. | 
