Family Challenge, now in its 9^th year, is a fund raising event for the Kenya Kimili Organisation. The organisation has trained many psychiatric nurses who are now working in their home communities. Founding member, Melanie Blake, was recently awarded an OBE by the Queen of England for her achievements.

 
This year, for the first time, St Andrew’s School, Turi participated in the Family Challenge by sending two teams each consisting of two Year 13 pupils and three Year 8 pupils. They valiantly overcame 12 challenges ranging from blind tuktuk driving to blindfold shepherding to picking and arranging cups using a balloon only. They were so good on the singing challenge that they were asked to perform during the prize giving. Overall, we won medals as the best archers and raised Kes 103,200.
 
The pupils said they learnt the following:

• Perseverance is not an option in life
• That being tired can be good when you achieve your goal
• Team work is a powerful tool in achieving success
• You’ll do much better when you understand your team members
• How to raise the team spirit after the inevitable discouragements

 
Our pupils were all very keen to return again even if they have left the school because the St Andrew’s spirit means nothing if it stops at the gate. Next year they hope to raise more funds by starting earlier and to host one of the challenges.
 
It was a pleasure working with such cooperative and well behaved Year 13’s and to have opened the eyes of our six Year 8’s.
 
Mr Nicholas Martyn
Head of Science – Senior School