Acting Up fundraiser for Africa a great fit

Acting Up has donated $1000 to Tenderfeet, a not-for-profit organisation that funds a school in one of the world’s biggest slums, through their Courtyard Cinema summer series.

Tenderfeet was started in 2000 to help children in Kibera, Nairobi, where 500,000 people are living in poverty in a space about the same size as Busselton.

The Australian branch was started in the South West in 2011, focusing on funding teenage girls to continue their studies throughout high school.

Tenderfeet chairman Craig Garratt said the money would be added to the drive to raise $35,000 to provide clean water to the school in a plan to make it sustainable.

“$1000 will go to our water project. Creating access to clean water means the school can be self-sufficient,” he said.

“We’re almost halfway now. This donation is greatly appreciated.”

The Australian branch has grown over the past eight years from helping 30 girls to about 270.

Acting Up artistic director Russell Chandler said the team had surveyed parents and had overwhelming support to show the “kids favourite” Home Alone.

“Acting Up is primarily about developing youth skills in the performing arts, there was a natural alignment with helping impoverished youth overseas,” he said.