A SWINDON headteacher is flying into the eye of violent Kenyan presidential election clashes this week to help spread a little joy to children in one of the world’s poorest and toughest slums.

Mike Welsh, who is the headteacher at Goddard Park Academy, will be representing the Rotary Club of Swindon Old Town, along with fellow Rotarian Graham Miles to see how a £35,000 grant is helping children at the Desai Memorial Primary School.

As a twinned school with Goddard Park, the trip will be an emotional one for Mike as it will be nearly 20 years since he first visited the school, which is being supported by the Rotary Global Grant.

“The global grant is a major grant from Rotary International so this money will help build three more classrooms which will see 100 or more children be able to get into school,” Mike said.

“Our children at Goddard Park have studied Kenya and know that while there is no electricity at the school, that will soon come with this grant.

“The Rotary Club of Swindon Old Town helped build the school 15 years ago and raised money for that so it is nice to go and see its progress.”

Just days before Uhuru Kenyatta was declared winner of a controversial re-run of the presidential election, up to 10 people were killed in tribal clashes near the Desai Memorial Primary School which serves the Kawangware slum in western Nairobi.

Despite the violent outbreak, Mike, who is self-funding his week-long trip, hopes to see how the school will use the funding so he can report back to pupils in Park North.

He said: “I’m not worried about the danger of violence as much as the danger of children growing up with no access to basic literacy and education and blighted lives.

“I’m committed to success in education, whether this is in Park North or Kawangware.

“Children in Goddard Park study Kenya in some depth and several of our teachers have spent time at Desai.

“This is a life-changing experience and means our children develop a brilliant understanding of the challenges and joys of being global citizens.

“The children have a desire to be in school and the desire to learn which is phenomenal to see and so it is great to have this relationship between Goddard Park, the Rotary Club of Swindon Old Town and the Desai school.

“Going there changes your life and you get a completely new perspective on life.”

Mike will return from Nairobi next week.