Colobus Trust

It is no secret that the Colobus Trust has been struggling financially over this last year. Therefore when Assistant Manager, Gwili, went back to England to spend time with his family over Christmas, his family made it their mission to raise some funds for the new years upcoming projects.

Together with his sister Felicity and with help from Lindsay and Olivia Kennaway of Lalesso, and many many more, they arranged an event they called ‘Monkey Around London’. The event was successfully held on the 16th of December in the City of London. The event centred around a fashion show exhibiting the much anticipated Lalesso Spring/Summer ’09 collection which looks fantastic. Other highlights included a live band and DJ set, as well as a shop selling the Lalesso range and other africana.

The event went off with a bang and had over 200 guests. People came from all over Britain. Friends, families, ex-volunteers and many other Colobus Trust supporters, new and old, attended. It was a great chance for people to be united under one cause and lots of supporters met for the first time, such as long term Colobus Trust supporter, Chip Mitton who finally got to meet Gwili!

The fundraiser collected a fantastic amount of £1700 (KSh 200,000). This will prove to be a great Christmas present to the Trust and the monkeys and forest it looks after. As stated at the event, the money raised is going in to support projects such as the Diani Wildlife Census & Habitat Management Assessment, which is being undertaken in partnership with Camp Kenya in late January. This landmark study will pave the way for all much of the work the two organisations will do together over 2009.

Watch this space next month for more information on the study and its goals.

A belated Christmas wishes and blessed 2009 from all at the Colobus Trust

The Colobus Trust will be holding its first fundraiser on foreign soil on Tuesday the 16th of December. The location is Sway Bar just off London’s famous Liverpool Street.

This event is a joint effort by the Colobus Trust and Kenyan ethical fashion house Lalesso, who have previously worked together on Kenyan based fundraisers. Lalesso have very kindly arranged for us to exhibit there fantastic new Spring/Summer ‘09 range with a great stage show. As well as this we will be have performances by the Flying Circus Band and a DJ set by the award winning Jarvus. Now, the Colobus Trust & Lalesso invite you, on behalf of all the monkeys, to a one of a kind charitable event in the build up to Christmas.

*** MONKEY AROUND LONDON – CHARITY PARTY & FASHION SHOW! ***

The event will last all evening and involve many acts and exhibits:

- The main event is the UK PREVIEW of the Kenyan ethical clothing label LALESSOS SPRING SUMMER 09 RANGE and a sale of some of their pieces.

- Musical fun will include a performance by the FLYING CIRCUS BAND & a DJ SET (Jarvus).

- Other attractions will include:
~ a photography exhibition
~ a sale and auction of Africana which will be reasonably priced and make great xmas presents (including traditional Masaii beadwork, traditional Swahili cloths {kikoys & khangas}, Kenyan made jewelry and more!)

*** TICKETS: £7.50 pre-registered (by e-mail) by 1st December, £10 on the door ***

Please come and join us as you will get the chance to help two very worthy causes!
*** All proceeds and profits will go to help support THE COLOBUS TRUST ***

The ethical fashion house Lalesso has been established for 3 years and despite being sold internationally, their proceeds go back into supporting traditional Kenyan culture. Their garments are made by local Kenyan tailors from authentic Kenyan khangas. Lalesso had initial success in South Africa and Kenya and are now targeting the United Kingdom with their launch in the flagship Topshop store on Oxford Street, London. After the show some of their pieces will be for sale, with all profit going to the Colobus Trust.The COLOBUS TRUST (as many of you will know) is a wildlife trust in Diani, Kenya. It was set up to preserve the wild animals of the local forest, in particular the endangered Colobus Monkey, the forest itself and the local people.

The money from this fundraising event will provide a much needed contribution to the Trust, which is still suffering from the 90% fall in tourism caused by the 2008 post election riots and over-dramatisation in the press. The Trust is still struggling financially and this fundraiser is aimed at providing funds to set all programs back on their feet.

Please invite ALL your friends/family/anyone to come and join in! We have a facebook event with already over 100 guests confirmed  and are also sending out physical invites.

If you would like to be sent some more information, just email gwili@colobustrust.org

or find more information about Lalesso, us and the event at…

Save The Colobus!!! Facebook Event

Colobus Trust Facebook Cause

Lalesso Website