Kenya Club’s Kenya Carnival to take place Sept. 1

The Fifth Annual Kenya Carnival will be on Sept. 1 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church (7700 N. Meridian Street, Indianapolis).  The carnival will have games, inflatables, food, shopping and entertainment.  Unlimited wristbands will cost $15 at the door, and Kiddie Land wristbands will cost $8.  The carnival is run by volunteers of different faiths from around the Indianapolis area.

“There are definitely more people involved (this year),” said Carmel Kenya Club president Kirsten Hawley.  “Last year the majority or people were from the church where the Kenya Carnival is held at, while this year there is a lot more interest from other churches and synagogues.”

The main goal of the Kenya Carnival is to raise money for children in Kenya to be able to go to high school.  It costs $325 to send one child to school, and this year they hope to raise $32,500 to send 100 kids to school.

“The profits go directly to kids in Kenya to pay for their high school,” said co-leader of the carnival Ben Booher.  “Up until their eighth year of schooling, it is paid for by the Kenyan government.  But after that, they are on their own.”

“A lot of kids in Kenya live with their grandparents, by themselves or with their older siblings and they don’t really have a way to make enough money to support their family and go to school,” said Hawley.  “A lot of them have big dreams and need help.  We are trying to provide a means for them to get an education.”