Scottish Borders Local Association

In 1997 the Borders Exploration Group took a group of young people to Kenya. Part of that trip saw them helping to build a village school in Kiawaithanji, a rural area with a population of about 2000 situated some 60 miles from Nairobi. The Local Association felt that this project was worth supporting and gave the expedition a grant to help supply building materials.

The building - a large classroom, an office and a kitchen - was built in a joint effort between group members and the local community. It is called The Nan Lyle Academy.

In fact, contact has continued and some of our members at Hawick High have raised money to help with the running of the school. Prominent among those is Angela Cumming and, in recognition of her efforts, the school governors (in Kiawaithanji that is, not Hawick...) have named the soup kitchen - where the children get their midday meal - after her...

...and there's even a plaque on the wall to say so:
 

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