AN African woman who runs a school for destitute children has travelled to Teignmouth to say a big 'thank you' to the generosity of the residents.

Catherine Omanyo is the founder of the Imprezza School in Kenya, which has caught the imagination of the Teignbridge public, who have donated tens of thousands of pounds to the project through a charity.

The funds have enabled orphans to obtain an education and many have gone on to university and landed skilled jobs.

Catherine told this newspaper she recently 'escaped death by a whisker' after being caught up in the post-election violence in Kenya.

'Being able to come here l From page 1

to relax was timely, because I was reaching the point of dropping down through exhaustion. I have hardly had time for myself because of all the problems that have to be resolved.

'I feel very humble knowing that so many ­people here care about our children. I just want to thank everybody for donating so much money to enable us to maintain our work. I love Teignmouth' said Catherine, 31, who has been staying in the town for over two-weeks.

The Operation Imprezza charity has the support of schools, churches, businesses and many other organisations and individuals in and around the Teignmouth area, and is able to raise an amazing £475 a week to help with the running costs of the school. It is the biggest fund raising group in the town by far.

Catherine, who is due to return home today (fri), has been meeting supporters and giving talks to schools and churches, and emphasising the importance of the cash and support to the impoverished youngsters.

She has also been shown local beauty spots, and tried out horse riding for the first time at Ideford.

Melissa Middleton, whose Whistle Stop Cafe at Teignmouth station is the focal point for the charity, said it had been wonderful to meet Catherine and introduce her to the town.

'We have an affinity because we both come from similar backgrounds. I had a rough ride in my early life, just like her. But I have been able to turn my life around, and Imprezza has made me realise I can make a difference.

'Catherine is an inspiration to us all, and she has made such a huge difference to the lives of so many children.'

Catherine started the school in 2001 in a Nairobi slum, taking youngsters from any tribe, nationality or religion.

The charity was set up a year later after Sarah Hulme, then 16, visited the school and with the help of Torquay Girls' Grammar School, began raising money for Imprezza. She and her family and the school are still heavily involved, and Sarah paid for Catherine's visit.

In 2007, Kenya was ravaged by conflict and Catherine sent away those pupils who had somewhere safe to go, before fleeing the capital Nairobi with a few teachers and over 30 orphans who were completely dependent on her.

They found a lorry driver who took them to a safe village in the bush. The situation was so bad, that when the driver headed back to the city, he was trapped in his cab by a mob, and burned alive.

It was decided to keep the children in the bush, and completely start the school again. The charity was approached by a local orphanage to take on a primary school they had started but could not develop on their own.

Catherine agreed, and it is now the Imprezza Academy, and can teach children from nursery to the equivalent of sixth form.

Western Province is the poorest part of Kenya, with 75 per-cent of the population living on far less than 1$ a day. Although people know that education is the only way out of such poverty, they simply cannot afford to send children to school when they do not have money to eat properly.

Operation Imprezza has now bought land in the area, and is beginning to build the first phase of the school.

Supporters of the charity are planning to visit the school over the next few months to see what has been achieved, including two teachers from Stokeinteignhead Primary School in January. There will then be an exchange visit by Kenyan teachers.

Sue Roberts, a former head of the Torquay grammar school who is one of the charity's trustees, said: 'when we have finished building the school, we will have about 650 pupils from nursery to secondary.

'We hope to make the school self sufficient, and then start again with another school, as, sadly, there is no shortage of need.'

Many former pupils of Imprezza have gone on to university and good careers – from newsreaders to professional sportsmen and women – and one old boy, Brian Akama, who was an orphaned street child supporting three siblings, was full of praise for the school.

'You get transformed at Imprezza and become a person and begin to live. You are able to dream and hope, because without hope, you are as good as dead.'

He gained a scholarship, and is now studying aeronautical engineering at an American university.

Peninah Mwanyumba, another orphan, declared: 'Imprezza gave me a reason to live, smile and love work. I love Operation Imprezza, and would love to continue being part and parcel of it.'

And Lynette Agnettah, who has just completed secondary education, added: 'I would like to thank the friends from abroad for their love, care and kind hearts. I never imagined I would reach this point.'

Catherine said she had really been taken aback by the abundance of food in the UK.

'I now understand why there are so few skinny people here compared to Kenya. Nobody is worried where their next meal is coming from.

'I only thought food like that was available at important conferences, such as the one in our country recently when I met Hillary Clinton. But I was wrong - in this part of the world it is just part of normal life.'

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