Debbie Cameron, formally of the Institute of Directors in Kent, has opened the doors of the first branch of international charity Fields of Life at Kent Science Park (KSP). Fields of Life focuses its work across East Africa, where it brings about positive change through the provision of quality education, clean water, health promotion and other community based projects.
The charity has been running for twenty years now, with its head office in Northern Ireland home to a team of eight full time staff and further volunteers. Driven by the need to raise further funds, the decision to open an office at Kent Science Park was spearheaded by Debbie Cameron, who was involved with the charity for 15 months before being appointed as the Head of Development and Fundraising in GB. In that time, Debbie has taken part in various fundraising projects, which include a banger rally from Maidstone to Monaco, and a climb to the summit of Mount Elgon in Uganda.
Debbie explained the reasons behind opening a Fields of Life branch in Great Britain, “I am incredibly excited to get started in the new office – I have a blank canvas to work from and so many interesting ideas to move forward with. Registering Fields of Life as a GB charity means that we can target a lot more people and reach a whole new audience. My aim is to ensure that the GB branch at KSP is incredibly efficient and raises maximum funds. Getting businesses on board is key to this growth, so initially I will be focusing on the corporate market.”
‘We selected Kent Science Park as our first branch for many reasons. Having worked on the Park previously with the Institute of Directors, I know how passionate the team is about supporting its tenants, and they have been invaluable in helping me set up the first branch office. The Park has always been on the leading edge of business in Kent and I love the Park’s ethos and commitment. I also hope to collaborate with other tenants on projects in the future.”
James Speck, Site Director at KSP, welcomed Fields of Life to the Park. He said, “KSP has been an avid supporter of Debbie’s fundraising projects for Fields of Life in the past, so it seems only natural that we would welcome them to the site with open arms. What Fields of Life is trying to achieve is phenomenal and the work that they do makes a real difference to people living in the poorest parts of East Africa. They don’t just throw money at a problem, but will find a sustainable solution that works in the long term. There is always so much positive work being undertaken at the Park that having a charity here is a natural fit and a welcome addition to our wide portfolio of tenants. I am sure Debbie and the team will achieve everything they set out to and we will certainly do as much as we can to help.”
For more information or to donate to Fields of Life, please visit www.fieldsoflife.org. Only £17 a month will sponsor a child in primary education and £24 a month will sponsor a child in secondary education, including boarding costs. A freshwater well can be installed for as little as £3,600 and this provides clean, safe drinking water for a community of 250+ people for the next 20 years. If you would like to find out more about corporate sponsorship, please get in contact with Debbie Cameron via email on debbie.cameron@fieldsoflife.org.
