About Colonel Harry Vialou Clark
The Kariandusi School Trust is the brainchild of Col. Harry Vialou Clark. Harry is a retired army officer who was born in Kenya and whose ambition, inspiration and drive coupled with a love of the country of his birth led him to dedicate his energies for the betterment of the Kenyan child through education and development.
Harry's wife, Alison Vialou Clark, works tirelessly alongside him. In 2000, when they first visited the Kariandusi Primary School that gave its name to the charity it was a mud and wattle school building educating just 135 pupils. After the roof blew off this pitiful building, Harry turned his formidable vision and determination to its rebuilding. His civil engineering skills and impassioned fundraising enabled construction to begin in November 2003 and it was completed in January 2005. The opening ceremony took place on Valentines Day 2005, one year ahead of schedule. The full project cost £55,000. It is now a smart double stream school and takes up to 540 pupils - sixteen times the number of young people once receiving a basic education there. Even now, the school is full to capacity and may need to be extended again to cope with the extra 'Internally Displaced' children after the post-election chaos in 2008.
Supported by a dedicated team, Harry has continued to improve the lives of the rural Kenyan child by his commitment to building more schools and projects in the region. Langalanga School was completed and opened in September 2006, and Simba and Murindati Primary Schools in 2008. Five more school projects currently under way under Harry's direction. Details of these can be found by going to the 'School Reports' page.
Harry and Alison continue to dedicate themselves not only to the Kariandusi School Trust but also to the Langalanga Scholarship Fund (www.langalanga.org.uk). Harry's efforts have, to date, already transformed the lives and hopes of thousands of Kenyan children. The inspiration of one man has lifted them out of poverty and towards a better future.