In a few weeks, Managing Director of Sixt UK; Per Voegerl, will be travelling to the Rift Valley in Kenya to help children living in poverty. While there, he will take part in social support projects and visit communities of Kenyans in need. Towards the end of his visit, he will also run an Ultra Marathon (62 km) to raise awareness for a cause that is particularly close to his heart: solar lighting for children. In a country where electricity can be scarce, solar lamps have the ability not just to light dark homes at night, but to displace dangerous wood fire heating. Additionally, solar lamps have health benefits, and allow children to safely do their homework and study in the evenings.
Per and the Sixt UK team would like to ask for your support: 100% of the money he raises will fund solar lighting systems for children, in partnership with the charity, Compassion UK.
Per’s Charity Work in Kenya
Per will arrive in Nairobi on June 8th. At first, he’ll visit and volunteer at projects in the slums of Nairobi. These Compassion projects are focused on providing impoverished Kenyans with information and guidance regarding health, education, welfare, money management, and life skills. The following days will be spent visiting similar projects in rural areas. These are the folks who benefit directly from the solar lighting initiative that Per is promoting. Per will get to see first-hand, just how they live, and why solar lamps could greatly improve their quality of life.
Along with approximately 60 other people who will be running or cycling, Per will run the Ultra Marathon in June. It’s going to be difficult, but he says he’ll finish, no matter the pain! The Kenyans he will have met in the previous days will be there along the course to cheer him on.
How to make a donation
To sponsor a child or make a donation, please visit: www.compassionuk.org/pervoegerl
To bid on one of the great auction items, visit: https://www.jumblebee.co.uk/perandgeoff
Per’s online auction offers lots of fabulous items, including flights, Premier League tickets, theater tickets, hotel stays, England cricket hospitality, luxurious meals, and more. All proceeds will be donated to the Compassion UK charity. Every pound does count, and it is such a great cause close to Per’s and Sixt UK’s heart.
Solar Lighting Systems for Children
Many of the homes in rural Kenya have no electricity, forcing families to spend their evenings in the dark (which is common) or rely on wood fires. Both are problematic, but the latter is even dangerous. Lighting fires in such close quarters creates unsafe environments that lead to respiratory illnesses and burn injuries, especially in children. Furthermore, children often spend time collecting wood for the fire, rather than attending school. With portable solar lamps, not only can the children do their homework by a reliable light, they can also travel to and from school safely in the early morning and evening hours.
Each solar unit is just £60. If you would like to donate £60 and give a family the gift of light, please visit www.compassionuk.org/pervoegerl