Bristol Teenager Takes on Frozen Challenge to Provide Clean Water to Schools in Rural Kenya
Freya Hyslop, a 13-year-old student from rural Bristol, is braving freezing winter temperatures and early wake-up calls to bring clean water to schools in rural Kenya. As a junior ambassador for the charity African Promise, Freya has committed to a month-long challenge of daily cold-water plunges in her family’s garden.
This is not the first time Freya has taken on an ambitious challenge for the charity. Two years ago, she completed a week-long walk-to-school challenge, walking 10km to and from school each day and raising over £5,000. It was during this challenge that Freya realized the importance of access to clean water, as without it, her 20km daily walk would have been nearly impossible.
Inspired by this experience, Freya has set her sights on her latest fundraising challenge, the ‘February Freeze’. So far, she has raised nearly £1,500 from family, friends, and her school community, which is triple her initial target of £500. The funds will be used by the charity to increase water storage capacity and rainwater harvesting potential in their partner schools in Kenya, benefiting over 3,000 children.
In addition to facing icy-cold and even frozen water, Freya has also had to wake up early to complete her plunges before school. Her mother, Sarah, has joined her for the first half of the challenge, and her father, Matt, will join her for the remainder. Matt’s employer has also pledged to make a donation to the fundraising pot if he completes a plunge every day until the end of the month.
Freya’s determination and efforts have inspired many, and she hopes to reach a new fundraising target of £3,000. You can show your support by making a donation to her fundraising page at justgiving.com/page/sarah-hyslop-africanpromise or directly to the charity at africanpromise.org.uk.
For more information about African Promise and their work, please visit their website at africanpromise.org.uk.
