On Friday 2nd May, Bishop Jeremiah and his wife Susan arrived at Heathrow airport for the start of a 19 day visit of various schools, churches, charities and individuals. Their last trip to the UK was 5 years ago, and Worldwide Silver Lining considered the time was right to bring them again to the UK to renew acquaintances and to make new contacts. The trip was very successful, and Jeremiah and Susan returned to Kenya refreshed from a ‘holiday’ – albeit a rather busy one – and renewed in their mission in looking after some 300 poor and orphaned children at Magnet school in the Nairobi area.

Highlights of the trip included visits to Royal Russell School, which first established a link with Kibobi back in 2005, and visits to Dulwich College, where the former Chaplain of the College and chair of Worldwide Silver Lining now works. In both schools, both Jeremiah and Susan spoke in assemblies and visited classrooms. There was even a special concert of students held at Royal Russell in honour of their visit and in order to raise awareness and funds for their work. They also visited Alleyn’s school in Dulwich, The Royal in Haslemere, the Sir John Cass Foundation and Redcoat School in Stepney, Harrow School, and Amesbury Prep, who have themselves been raising money for Magnet. Other notable visits included a visit to St Catherine’s Prep school in Bramley. They raised £4500 towards the new library that Magnet want to build, and this represents an incredible effort by the school. Jeremiah and Susan also visited Cheltenham Ladies College, where Jeremiah spoke at their morning service, and then had lunch on the lawn of the Headmistress’ house in wonderful May sunshine. Church visits included St Bart’s in Sevenoaks, that has been supporting Magnet school for several years and has agreed to continue its support and link, and the Dulwich College chapel, where Jeremiah and Susan were treated to a sumptuous luncheon at the Master’s house afterwards.

They also conducted a seminar at SOAS (University of London), and were invited to join a discussion on voluntourism in Africa. They also had brunch with the leaders of Adventure Lifesigns, an adventure company based in Guildford that have links with Magnet school. They also visited the Matriarch of Worldwide Silver Lining, the women whose vision started the whole connection, Lady Gloria Cottesloe. Now well into her 80’s, she doesn’t see very well and stays in her home in Battersea. She was thrilled to receive a visit from Jeremiah and Susan and to hear of their work and the continuing work of Worldwide Silver Lining. Overall, it was an action packed visit with significant promises to start or maintain a link with Magnet School. We are grateful to Jeremiah and Susan for sparing the time away from home to visit us, and we continue committed to fundraising and supporting them from the UK.

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