HIGHLANDS College students have been pedalling with purpose this week to raise funds for facilities in a Kenyan school.
The Highlands College Student Ambassador Leadership Team hosted a bikeathon from 8.30am to 4.30pm on Tuesday and Wednesday in their Student Life Lounge.
A total of 45 people cycled over the last two days, racking up more than 600 kilometres on the bikes.
Four exercise bikes were available to ride, with staff and students encouraged to take part.
Participants, which included Highlands College principal Jo Terry-Marchant and two head student leaders, Jolie Mars and Belle Fosse, were striving to raise the college’s total target of £15,000, which will go towards building a new kitchen for nearly 300 children at the Malindi Bright Future Academy in East Kenya. This is a non-profit school for underprivileged children from a very poor rural area outside Malindi.
The Friends of the Malindi Bright Future Academy fund a daily food programme of porridge and lunch to mitigate the effects of hunger on the learning and development of all pupils.
Highlands College principle Jo Terry-Marchant said: “Highlands College students chose the Malindi Bright Future Academy as their top charity for 2024, although they fundraise all the time for other causes as well. They chose the school because it feeds and educates pupils who could not access education otherwise, and we at Highlands College are all about opening pathways to success.
“The students really want to connect with the wider world and make a positive contribution to other people’s lives, both in Jersey and globally. In previous years they have worked in Nepal, and we have exchanges with France this year and skills competitions with Isle of Man and Guernsey.”
Once the new facility is built, Highlands College students will have the opportunity to visit Kenya and share good practice – an experience many would not have the opportunity to do otherwise.
The event was supported by The Fitness Agency Jersey.
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