Mission Kenya 2010 - Africa and Asia Venture

Mission Kenya 2010 - Africa and Asia Venture

Chris Perkiss is spending the first part of his graduate gap year raising funds to get to Kenya and volunteer on the Environment & Community project with AV. Here he tells his story.....

"It has been hard work but I'm sure it's going to be totally worth it. I think the key to raising the funds through working, and something that has got me through the really rubbish tired days, is keeping focussed on the goal at the end, going to Kenya. Since I decided to do the Community and Environment project in Kenya I have been working a lot to get money together. Initially spurring my decision to do this type of project was a small amount of inheritance from passed relatives who I know wouldn't want me to use the money in any other way. On top of that, during my last year at uni, I budgeted my loan very tightly so that I could put some of it away for this project, which did mean a couple of nights with just a tin of beans, but come on, what students haven't done that? During the summer of 2008 and whilst still studying at uni I was working full time at a tourist attraction in Cornwall called FutureWorld@Goonhilly as a tour guide and apart from some money used for food/rent, most of this was put away too. 

Since finishing uni and deciding to use this year to cram in other travels (before studying a masters course) to Australia and New Zealand, saving money has been the main theme of my life. Up until 2 weeks ago I was working two jobs. On a typical day I would get up at 4.15am (sometimes 3.15am if they wanted me in early) and go to work my main job at Asda for a 5am start and finish about 11am, but sometimes stay on for overtime. Then I would come home and have a nap before going out to work at my second job in the evening as a delivery driver for Pizza Hut and my typical hours there were 5-10pm so most days I was working about 10-11 hours. On top of that, on my few days off I was sorting out my garage and taking stuff to car boot sales on Sunday mornings for a bit of extra cash to put away. In all, some weeks I was working in excess of 70 hours. Since leaving Pizza Hut, I'm now working only at Asda and doing all the overtime available, which means early mornings and naps in the afternoon, but I've not become a complete recluse and still see my friends most evenings, but getting up at 3 or 4am never gets easier! I was also lucky enough to receive a £300 grant from the Allan & Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust which I applied for last year.

I'm sure other people have worked just as or even harder to get their funds together, and from my point of view I wouldn't have it any other way and although my parents have offered financial help I have said to them that this is something I want to fund on my own because I like to be independent and not have to rely on them, especially for this sort of project because they aren't going to be there holding my hand so why should they pay for it?"

There are many fellow AV Volunteers in the same boat as Chris - struggling to get funds together for YOUR gap year, but it is possible with some determination, commitment and inspiration!

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