Carol Groves - Chairman

Carol co-founded the charity in 2003 following a chance visit to a school in Mombasa whilst on holiday with her family three years before.

Carol set up the charity in order to help improve the lives of children living in Mombasa, who have become very dear to her heart.

Carol's skills are in managing change, strategic planning and fundraising. She also gives talks to various organisations about the Charity and is always looking for ways to encourage others to support its work.

Dan Purchese - Vice Chairman

Dan has been a Trustee of the charity since it began. He first visited Mombasa in 2002 and fell in love with the Kenyan culture and people - especially the children.

Dan’s professional background spans both the IT industry and professional campaigning. He has supported many different aspects of the charity's work and development over the years.

Dan has spent a lot of time at our school working on different projects and currently jointly leads the charity's work in enabling young people from the UK to volunteer at our school.

Chris Azzaro - Treasurer

Having previously served as our charity's Chairman, Chris is now our Treasurer and is in charge of all our accounting procedures.

As former Deputy Head of St. Andrew's school, Worthing, Chris has inspired an active interest in the children of Mombasa and has taken groups of pupils to work in the school and to experience the “African” education.

Shirley Fisher - Trustee

Being been part of the Charity since the beginning and visiting the school regularly over the years, Shirley has grown to love the Kenyan people.

Through her role as Sponsorship Secretary, Shirley has experienced firsthand both the generosity of our sponsors and fundraisers and also the deep appreciation of the families in Mombasa for the help given to their children.

Karyn Hinks - Trustee

Karyn is a Governor at St. Andrew's High School where she was instrumental in getting the school involved with the charity. Initially she was involved with fundraising before becoming a Trustee.

Karyn is particularly interested in the provision of education for children with Special Learning Needs and is working with the teachers in Mombasa to this end. 

Ian Straw - Trustee

Ian was involved with the charity events at St Andrew's High School to raise funds for the Children of Mombassa right from the start in 2003.

In 2010 Ian went out with the group in February of that year to see for himself the school and how the funds were being spent and how the school was evolving through the efforts being put in.  Also to lend a hand in teaching classses.  

In October Ian took students from St Andrew's High School as part of the year 11 work experience, a first not just for the school but also for the county.  It was an extraordinary experience for all involved.

In November of the same year Ian became a trustee of the charity and continues to work with the charity by raising funds and returning twice in 2011 to Mombassa.

John Colenutt - Trustee

John first went to Kenya with the charity in 2009 and instantly decided he wanted go back and help out more.

Since that time John has continued to get more involved in the charity and has helped lead groups of young people to volunteer at the school. ]He particularly enjoys enabling the children to experience things that aren’t so common on the Kenyan curriculum, such as art and craft activities.

Alex Watkins - Associate Trustee

Alex first becamse involved with the charity through events at St Andrew's High School in 2009. He travelled with Ian and Chris to volunteer at the School for his Work Experience in October 2010 and taught lessons as well as being a Learning Support Assistant.

He became the charity's first ever Associate Trustee in September 2011 and is looking forward to bringing on board a younger generation in helping the school and the charity develop.