When you are West London 17 year old, with the world at your feet, Top Shop and Portobello Market on your doorstep what would you do next? University? Work? Watch TV and schlep around with your friends? Not Kitty Dutton…Kitty had other plans.
Kitty decided to head off to Ethiopia with the Fulcrom charity. She travelled out to Ethiopia for 17 days in the summer of 2008 when she was 17 years old. She went as part of a group of 30 young adults, from schools across West and North London.
The first week was spent trekking, then the team got down to the task in hand of building a school, from foundations and walls through to plastering and making furniture. The school then, had 300 children aged 2-9 years. Only the older children spoke English (their first language is Amharic), but Kitty and her team mates built camaraderie and friendship whilst among other activities, teaching the children the song and actions to ‘Heads, shoulders, knees and toes’!
Kitty was also able to take time out to visit the local Church there on a feast day, Angel Gabriel's Birthday – very different to the Sunday Service at St. Faith’s!
The trip was done as part of level 3 COPE (certificate of personal effectiveness), where participants had to plan, achieve and evaluate the trip. The building of the school was an amazing challenge, combining fun with very hard work. For any 17 year old, or any adult, it was a truly once in lifetime opportunity.
Kitty is a Brentford girl through and through and has been a member of St Faith’s since she was 7. Kitty attended the Green school.
As Kitty says ‘The Fulcrum Challenge was my opportunity to have an adventure whilst helping others. The challenge of raising the funds to build a school, plus the prospect of getting to visit an amazing country, getting to know the people and of having the time of my life all inspired me to take part and every moment lived up to my expectations’.
So, if you are in your teens, wondering what challenges life could throw at you next, perhaps Kitty’s path could be one for to follow?
As Reverend Durkin says Having chatted with Kitty and seen some of her ‘photos I’m so looking forward to having her with us on Sunday morning, as she shares with us her trip to Ethiopia . It is fantastic to have a young person who has worshipped with us since she was 7 years old speaking to us from the pulpit so to speak! Do come and share Kitty’s experience!
To hear Kitty’s story for yourself, come to St. Faith’s this Sunday 18th April at 10.00am, where Kitty will be talking about this life changing trip.
www.parishofbrentford.org.uk/stfaiths.htm
www.twitter.com/Revdurkin
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