FROM THE STREETS OF MOMBASA TO THE GREENS OF THE ENGLISH CHALLENGE July 20th - 24th - Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Golf & Spa

1. FROM THE STREETS OF MOMBASA TO THE GREENS OF
THE ENGLISH CHALLENGE
FORMER KENYAN STREET CHILDREN TO CADDY ON
THE EUROPEAN CHALLENGE TOUR
A group of young people who were until recently living on the streets of Mombasa,
Kenya will, this summer, be playing a part in one of the most prestigious events on
the European Challenge Tour Schedule.
The former “street youths” have been trained as caddies by the UK charity Gladʼs
House and the European Tour Caddiesʼ Association and funded by The European
Tour Playersʼ Foundation. They are now among 44 young people working at the
Vipingo Ridge Golf Resort outside Mombasa. They will be visiting the UK in July to
train as caddies for the Challenge Tour professionals competing in the English
Challenge at Stoke By Nayland Hotel, Golf & Spa in Essex.
The luxury hotel will be in stark contrast to the living conditions endured by the
caddies until last year. Living on the streets of Mombasa they experienced extreme
poverty, with many resorting to begging and crime to survive.
Thanks to Gladʼs House, the caddies now live near Vipingo Ridge where they have
been trained to caddy – and play golf to a high standard - by professional caddies
from The European Tour.
All the caddies – three boys and one girl, plus two social workers, acting as caddy
masters - are looking forward to experiencing the excitement of a professional
tournament for themselves.
Cliff Ferguson, founder of Gladʼs House, comments, “The transformation in the lives
of these young people has been remarkable. From a life of unimaginable poverty,
they now have a profession, a real love of golf and, most importantly, a future. We
canʼt wait to see what they will make of life in the UK and how much theyʼll enjoy
caddying on such a magnificent course as the Gainsborough at Stoke by Nayland.”
Ends
For more information:
Jill Rennie: 07771 903648
Cliff Ferguson: 01256 766263
www.gladshouse.com

2. Notes to editors:
The English Challenge will be held at Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Golf & Spa from
Thursday 21st to Sunday 24th July.
The caddies will also be participating in the Pro-Am tournament on Wednesday 20th
July.
Gladʼs House will be holding a reception for the caddies on the evening of the 19th
giving them a chance to meet some of the charityʼs supporters and volunteers. The
press are more than welcome. RSVP
The Gladʼs House Caddies
Ronald Simiyu
Ronald comes from the Kesogon village in the Rift Valley. He has never seen his
parents and lived with his Grandmother until the age of 10 when poverty and
mistreatment led him to live on the streets. Attending the Gladʼs House “papasa”
sessions helped him to stop relying on glue and other substances to suppress his
appetite and ultimately leave the streets behind.
He is rated as one of the best caddies at Vipingo Ridge and is also a very good
golfer, achieving a net score of 65 in his last tournament. Gladʼs House is now also
assisting with his education so that can learn to read and write.
Julius Simiyu
Julius originally comes from the Imutete village in Western Province but has been
living on the streets since the age of four when he left home as his parents could not
afford to pay for an operation he required.
Aged 16, he came to Mombasa where he was finally treated in hospital but fell victim
to the daily struggle to survive on the streets, including substance abuse. He
attended a number of rehabilitation programmes, but only Gladʼs House were
successful in helping him leave the street. He then joined the charityʼs caddy
programme and is now working at the Vipingo Ridge golf resort where he has also
become an accomplished player.
Fredrick Gatibaru Ruphus
Fredrick comes from the Escarpment village in the Kiambu area, just north of Nairobi.
He is one of our older caddies and was living hand to mouth in Mombasa for a
number of years.

3. Over the years, his efforts to obtain educational qualifications have been hampered
by lack of funds and opportunity.
He is now very happy on the Gladʼs House Caddy programme, practising his game
as often as he can when the course is quiet.
Janet Anyango Otieno
Janet comes from the Buhalalire village in the Western Province. Janet went to
school for a few years but had to drop out because her parents could not pay the
fees. She married at the age of 18 and has two children aged 10 and 8.
Janetʼs love of sport meant that she joined the Gladʼs House womenʼs football team
in 2009 where she also benefited from a football coaching course. Having only joined
the Vipingo Ridge caddy programme in 2010, she is now acknowledged as the best
lady caddy and lady player in the Coast Province.
Gladʼs House Caddy Masters
Fredrick ʻBokeyʼ Achola (Country Manager & Director)
A former potential Kenyan Olympic boxer, Bokey is the founder of the Mombasa
Olympic Youth Organisation (MOYO) and the local Director for Gladʼs House. He
helps the team reach out to street children, youths and children of the community
through sport, using it as means to provide information and education. Universally
admired by the street children of Mombasa, Bokey inspires the children to stay away
from drugs and crime and avoid HIV and other infections.
Jelle Abdullah Abdi
Jelle Abdullah Abdi comes from Tina River District, of the Coast Province, where
most of the people are pastoralist and do not value education. Jelle was the only one
of his siblings to attend school and, in 1994, moved to Mombasa where he worked
with a missionary for 13 years, helping street children.
In 2010, he joined Gladʼs House Kenya as a full-time social worker.
Glad’S House 8 Driftway, HOOK, Hampshire RG27 9SB
t: 01256 766263 e: info@gladshouse.com
www.GladsHouse.com Registered Charity No 1115744