STAFF and children from a charitable housing and education scheme in Kenya are finding themselves trapped in their homes with food and fuel supplies quickly running out.

With dangerous roads and rising prices, Lavenda Education and Health Foundation are struggling to continue supporting the 400 children, 60 staff and the extended community who depend heavily upon them.

Lavenda was founded by Jeffrey and Ruth Njuguna in 1996 to provide education for those who could not otherwise afford it in Kenya. They also offer loving homes to orphaned children, provide holistic and preventative medical care and work with the local communities to improve the standard of living.

Roadblocks have been set up by gangs of up to a thousand young men armed with machetes and bows demanding to see ID cards. Those with names from opposing tribes are dragged from their vehicles and killed – few manage to flee.

Public transport has come to a halt for fear of safety and residents trying to avoid the violence are forced to stay in their homes.

Hearing their call, Simon Jones and web designers from Zako media in Watford contacted Lavenda’s UK directors, Nick and Melissa Johns to donate a website specifically for sending donations and updating supporters.

Zako media acted quickly and within two days over the weekend, had launched a web site to send donations directly to the project’s founders in Kenya.

Lavenda’s project managers have also been given the ability by Zako media to update the web site content themselves so they can keep their visitors informed on progress.

To read more about the projects, current updates and to make a donation to the project, please visit www.lavendasprings.co.uk (http://www NULL.lavendasprings NULL.co NULL.uk/). 100% of all donations go directly to the foundation in Kenya. Or visit the original Lavenda Site (http://www NULL.lavendasprings NULL.com/) for full project history or to donate in Australian Dollars.

Thanks for reading.

Simon