The annual event Kenyans in Reading Family Fun Day K.R.F.D took place on Saturday 6th August in the park at New Road, Sindlesham Wokingham. With lots of stalls, competitions food and a community spirit the day looked like a great success. My Wokingham spoke to one of the organisers chairman and founder member of K.R.F.D Ken Mora. We learnt about the purpose and history of the event after speaking he explained that the event’s main aim was to give back to the community, bring the community together and build something that future generations could inherit. He explains that the organisation was grateful for what the country had offered the Kenyan community. The day was for all communities to come and network and meet each other and for Kenyans from the area to meet each other. He explains the event in the park at Sindlesham had been going on for 7 years and they planned to hold the event every year.
Interview with one of the Organisers
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Opening of the event in 2022
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Photos of the Day
The History
The event began as a barbeque with parents and families and was funded by a group of 40 people hosting around 200 visitors. . The event went from strength to strength, taking place every summer since 2014, except during the pandemic. Last year the event saw around 750 people attending. Kenyans in Reading Family Annual Fun Day has food stalls, socialising and lots of activities for the kids. Fun competitions include 100m races, relays, tug of war, wheelbarrow races, football, table tennis, volleyball and badminton. Local companies and businesses can hire stalls.
The Faceboook Group for the event explains
A wonderful community is characterised by the spirit of love,and cohesiveness.KRFD brings everyone irrespective of all differences to promote oneness.
Organisational Aims
The organisation purpose is the promotion of social inclusion for the public benefit among people of Kenyan heritage and their families, who live in and around Reading who are socially and economically excluded by:
- providing opportunities for the community to come together and discuss issues of concern, such as marginalisation and isolation, and to find solutions to these issues, including feeding back to the local authority and other statutory, health and voluntary sector partners;
- providing opportunities for community awareness, cohesion and integration such as dialogues, sports events, cultural events, workshops and conferences,
- raising awareness, sharing and co-ordinating information that is useful and relevant to the community.
- providing peer support activities to discuss issues around drug abuse, alcoholism and recreational activities and signposting to other support services.