A DUDLEY man has vowed to return to Kenya following an "eye opening" trip helping poverty-stricken schoolchildren.

West Bromwich Albion fan Daniel Cameron worked alongside 18 other volunteers from the club's charity, the Albion Foundation, to carry out some much-needed DIY jobs at two schools in Nakuru.

The construction worker helped to build a wall around one of the schools, replacing the “flimsy wooden fence” that offered little protection for the children who were being tormented by locals who were urinating against it and throwing stones at the classrooms.

While Daniel’s team were hard at work, the other half of the group were busy plastering two recently constructed classrooms at another school to prepare them for painting.

The 29-year-old, who lives in Eve Hill, enjoyed getting stuck in but said "the icing on the cake" was the interaction he had with the schoolchildren.

He continued: "We took cases and cases of donations for the children, full of clothing, toys, skipping ropes, frisbees, footballs, bubbles, nail polishes and so on.”

Volunteers also got to visit a few of the children at home and one young girl in particular pulled on their heartstrings.

“At first she took us to her aunts as she was ashamed of her own home - it was just a tiny box room house with nothing but a large rag on the floor on which they slept.

"We clubbed together, bought and delivered a brand new mattress for the family, so they could sit and sleep in comfort.

“It was shocking and eye opening. We did everything possible to help.”

Although it wasn't all hard work - the volunteers enjoyed a safari tour around Lake Nakuru National Park and a visit to Thomson Falls – Daniel said he felt “proud and excited to be attempting to make a difference”.

He added: “I will definitely be returning to Kenya in the future."

For more information about the charity, visit www.thealbionfoundation.co.uk or for more about volunteering, visit www.african-adventures.co.uk