From Bournemouth to Kenya: How The Boo Charity Is Changing Lives (and Ours Too)
Wow. What a week.
Over the last week, our very own Debbie, Streetwise HR’s fearless founder and chairperson of The Boo Charity, has been out in Kenya. It’s her second time visiting, but somehow, this trip hit even harder. The emotion, the progress, the hope… all wrapped up in a week that’s impossible to forget.
So, who is The Boo Charity?
With its roots firmly planted in BCP and its heart beating in Kenya, The Boo Charity is a small but mighty organisation run by volunteers with huge hearts. Their mission? Simple but powerful - to give opportunity through education, empowerment, and employment skills to some of Kenya’s most vulnerable children and young adults.
They don’t splash the cash on fancy offices or marketing campaigns. Nope. This little charity runs on love, grit, and tenacity, ensuring every penny goes straight to where it’s needed most.
Sounds too good to be true, right? Wrong.
Over 20 years in, The Boo Charity has directly impacted more than 20,000 individuals. That’s 20,000 lives changed, and that’s not corporate fluff; that’s fact. All made possible by big-hearted volunteers, generous donors, and the relentless energy of people like our Debbie.
The experience
You can’t really understand it until you see it. We’ve tried, but honestly, words barely scratch the surface.
Imagine walking 5+ kilometres to school every day on an empty stomach. Not because you want to, but because you have to. Education in Kenya isn’t just a “nice to have”; it’s quite literally a lifeline.
Most children have no idea when they’ll next eat at home, but they still make that walk because school means a guaranteed meal. A bowl of rice and beans, or ugali with vegetables, might not sound much to us, but to them it’s fuel for the mind, body, and spirit.
That one meal powers learning, laughter, play, and the dream of something better.
What we witnessed this week
This trip wasn’t a holiday. It was a reality check and a heart opener rolled into one.
We’ve had the honour of walking in the students’ shoes - seeing their homes, hearing their stories, celebrating their wins, and yes, shedding a few tears.
We’ve seen the cooks toiling in smoky, sooty kitchens for hours just to feed hundreds of hungry children.
We’ve heard from alumni who’ve gone from poverty to prosperity - running businesses, building homes, employing their own families, and sending their kids to school.
And we’ve celebrated a huge milestone: The Boo Charity now owns land for the Nyamache Life Skills Centre and its shamba (farm).
That’s a big deal. Land ownership means sustainability, security, and the ability to grow their own food and income. It’s the kind of step that ensures Boo’s impact continues for generations.
Personal note
“Having the opportunity to lead the trip to Kenya this year was an honour, we have made such progress this year and to see and experience the impact from the work we do, to provide the funds for our projects, is extremely special.
I always leave a part of my heart with our family in Kenya and we will continue to work hard to raise funds and awareness to provide education, employment and empowerment to the children in Kenya.” – Debbie
Why we care (and why you should too)
At Streetwise HR, people are our thing. Whether it’s supporting businesses to get the best out of their teams or helping a child 4,000 miles away get the best start in life, it all comes down to opportunity.
This trip has lit a fire in us to do even more.
The Boo Charity relies 100% on donations, and every pound genuinely counts. They face impossible choices daily: do they support period poverty this month, help a young entrepreneur launch a business, or upgrade school facilities?
You can make that decision a little easier.
By donating, you’re not just handing over money - you’re creating real, lasting change.
How you can help
Make a one-off donation or become an ongoing sponsor
Run a fundraiser or company challenge
Join a future Kenya trip
Spread the word, because awareness = impact
Find out more about the amazing work The Boo Charity does here