For my DofE volunteer I have chosen Edukid, because I believe that I could really help out  children and families stuck in the cycle of poverty. Since the lack of education is one of the factors of poverty, therefore I have chosen the educational project because this can open up an opportunity for the younger generation to help their family to break the cycle of poverty and a chance for change.

I have raised money by asking family, friends and teachers to sponsor me for my fundraiser, where I crocheted for a whole day and more. I have made £105 in this fundraiser showing how donating a few pounds can make a huge impact on others’ lives. Throughout this volunteering I had worries about asking people to sponsor me and was having trouble finding the courage, however I had friends who motivated me and were by my side when I had to ask for a sponsor, helping me to succeed. 

For me the highlight of this volunteering experience is crocheting for my sponsors. It took me a while to finish my fundraiser but it was all worth it when I saw their reactions to my crochet. I have learnt that I must not hesitate to ask for help because with just one question I can change someone’s life. An advice to someone  considering volunteering with Edukid is to ‘ just do it’. There might be rejections or obstacles throughout this journey but there will always be someone who is willing to help. 

Thank you for reading my blog. I hope you find some motivation and encouragement for your journey.

After volunteering with Edukid, this is my reflection on my journey.

I chose Edukid for my volunteering because I am passionate about making sure that all children, people like me, my age, all have the equal opportunities to achieve as much as I can! This charity embodied this idea.

I decided to raise money for clean water and sanitation as I believe that water is essential to learning and living as a whole, it is a nessecity and it is awful that some people don’t even have access to something as simple as that.

I decided to raise money for this cause by putting myself in their shoes and decided to walk 14 miles spread over two days with a weighted backpack (it was soo hard!) overall I raised £255 out of my £150 goal which is amazing!!! This has ensured clean water to about 7 whole families!! 

The hardest part was probably the walk, it really put it into perspective how hard it was for people to do this everyday, especially when there are children doing this who are way younger than me. However my highlight was finding out what impact the money I raised would have as 7 families is amazing!

I have learnt alot through Edukid, it made me feel so lucky and grateful for the situation I’m in, just pushing my drive even more to make a difference. 

To any person volunteering with Edukid, throw yourself into it, you wouldn’t expect how involved you feel yourself becoming in this cause. It is such an exciting experience.

Thank you, from Aoife Gough (Bronze Award)

Hi,

I just wanted to share that I have completed my first fundraiser event as part of my Edukid remote volunteering for my Gold Duke of Edinburgh award! After weeks of planning, it all came together on the 10th October, where around 50 people came and enjoyed the personalised selection of music, free snacks and refreshments, and the merchandise available for sale, which included custom pin badges as well as glow-sticks. When collecting all of the donations, including the entrance fee, I found out that I was able to raise an impressive £66.25 for the charity!

I chose Edukid for my volunteering project, as it would fit in well with my schoolwork, as it is remote, but also because I am passionate about making change in the world and creating more equality where it is needed. This is why I would like my raised money to go towards Inclusive Education projects, which will support children’s special educational needs and diverse abilities in Cambodia, Peru and Uganda, which I feel especially passionate about as I have special needs at school myself, and want every child to access such opportunities as I have.

Challenges with my fundraiser included getting people involved, as I originally wanted to do a silent disco, which not many were interested in. For my solution, I decided to do a classic disco instead, charging a reasonable price of £1.00, which got many people to become interested in the event, who will likely support my next event as well.

For one of my later events, I plan on doing another disco, as it was fun, relatively simple to organise once I had the venue and support team, and people were genuinelly interested in coming to another one.

Until next time,

Freya, Queen Mary’s High School, Walsall.

I chose to volunteer with Edukid to help children access education and make a real impact. I supported children in Uganda, raising funds for school supplies, uniforms, and meals.

I ran a social media campaign on Instagram and TikTok, shared stories, and created posters with QR codes linking to our JustGiving page. Together, we raised £450, showing how even small actions can make a big difference.

There were challenges, like getting people to engage at first, but sharing personal stories and asking for help made it easier. My highlights were seeing donations grow and inspiring others to support the cause.

Volunteering with Edukid taught me teamwork, organisation, and the power of education to change lives. To anyone thinking about volunteering: go for it! Your efforts can make a real difference and inspire others too.

“Last night we were delighted to welcome Chris Turner and Kara Jeremiah from Edukid, a wonderful Bideford-based charity making a real difference around the globe. From tackling poverty to breaking down barriers to education, their work in schools and communities is truly moving. Huge thanks to Chris and Kara for joining us and sharing how, right from North Devon, they’re supporting children in Uganda, Cambodia, Peru and beyond to build brighter futures. Not to be missed!”

At Edukid, we’ve had the absolute pleasure of working alongside St Helen’s in Devon for the past 11 years. This relationship has grown into a powerful, long-term relationship between the school community in Devon and a partner school in Uganda. Over the years, we’ve watched the pupils at St Helen’s show incredible compassion, commitment, and curiosity about the world around them.

Through fundraising, awareness-raising, and taking part in Edukid’s global education projects – including immersive virtual reality experiences and even overseas teacher visits – St Helen’s has helped to transform the lives of children in Uganda by supporting their education.

One of the most moving parts of this journey has been watching the Ugandan children supported by St Helen’s transition from primary school to secondary school – and now even university. And perhaps even more amazing: students from St Helen’s who began this journey in primary school have grown up, continued their involvement with Edukid, and some have even visited Uganda themselves. They’ve had the incredible opportunity to meet and spend time with the very children their school community helped support years earlier.

To find out more about the relationship with Edukid, St Helens and our overseas communities in Uganda, please watch the video below:

Over the last couple of days, the Edukid team in Uganda have been visiting the homes of local children.

One of the groups visited Morris who is 17 years old and who lives at home with his 6 sisters. The children have lost both their parents and are orphans. They now live with their elderly grandparents. The grandmother and sisters sleep in the Banda used for cooking and have chronic chesty coughs from the smoke. The family have little food and can barely afford school fees.

The group visited and felt moved to buy food, mattresses and mosquito nets as emergency short term help for the family. Goats, hens and tools were purchased at the local market to provide an income in the medium term. The group also had the opportunity to plant the family some banana trees as a sustainable source of food, as well as replacing the Banda roof for extra ventilation.

Most importantly, Morris will be supported with his education thanks to members of the group. Education remains the long-term solution to breaking the cycle of poverty from which these families are trying to escape.

Opiyo Nick is an 18-year-old boy with a physical disability. Nick joined the programme in 2019 when he was 10 years old. He had never been to school before because he was denied the right to education due to his disability. Most people consider children with disabilities as useless, and when someone gives birth to such a child, it is often seen as a misfortune or a taboo.

Nick started school when the SEND project began at Kirombe Primary School. That is when his grandmother brought him, and he got registered.

He studied at Kirombe from Primary One to Three. Since he joined school at an older age, Nick faced some challenges with his classmates due to his disability. His hands are mostly affected, so he could not hold a pen well and was unable to write. He also experienced learning difficulties.

As a result of these challenges, we decided to take Nick to a SEND vocational school nearby. He was very happy to join because there were many other children with similar conditions, and he felt comfortable there. At the centre, he chose a course in knitting, which he studied for one year. He did very well.

By the end of the course, he was able to make beautiful sweaters in different sizes and fashions. He graduated in 2023 with a certificate. This achievement made both him and his parents very happy. It was an eye-opener for the family—that disability is not inability.