AN African charity set up by a Cumbrian aid worker is to hold a free art exhibition to showcase the creative flair of Kenyan and British artists.

The Noah Initiative (UK), which works with fatherless children and young men in the slums of Eldoret in western Kenya, is hosting the art expo and African market from today to July 13 at the Lakes Christian Centre, Bowness-on-Windermere.

Running daily from 11:00am to 8:00pm, entry to the exhibition is free, with visitors able to view the works of a range of ground-breaking artists, including Mandela, the Noah Boys and Renee Scobel from Kenya, and Julie-Ann Scott, Stephanie Hunter and Gordon Hunt from the UK. The African market will feature an array of art and craft, bowls, jewellery, souvenirs and clothing, as well as Noah Initiative CDs and t-shirts.

“This will be a fabulous event with some really beautiful art on display throughout the week,” said the founder of The Noah Initiative, 28-year-old Elliot Berry from Troutbeck Bridge.

“We hope local residents and Lake District visitors alike will pop in to see the work of these talented artists and of course find out more about our work in Kenya.”

Inspired by his experience of working in Africa as a counsellor and ‘house parent’ in Eldoret, Mr Berry set up The Noah Initiative charity to work with local schools and guardians to secure a better education for fatherless, abused or neglected boys.

The Noah Initiative is a self-financing charity which has achieved rapid success.

With four bases in Eldoret, Kenya's fifth largest city, it now has over 70 boys in the programme. Elliot Berry moved to Kenya in 2011

and continues his work ‘in the field’, with core activity focusing on Eldoret, particularly the slum areas where there are high levels of deprivation.

For further information about The Noah Initiative, visit:

noahinitiative.org