Serena builds another school in Africa

NAIROBI — US tennis star Serena Williams said on Wednesday she planned to help to build one new school every year in parts of Africa where education is beyond the reach of most children. The women's world number one has helped in the construction of schools in Kenya, Senegal and South Africa, as well as providing student grants and has joined in the fight against the killer disease, malaria, in Ghana.

"It is my goal to open many schools for thousands of children who do not have the opportunity to get good education. I plan to do one every year," said Serena, at the end of her whirlwind three-day tour of Kenya where she opened a second school in Makueni, some 150 kilometres (100 miles) southeast of Nairobi.

During her first trip to Kenya in November 2008, Serena commissioned her first school in the same region where, according to the national census statistics, 63.2 per cent of the local population live below the poverty line and most of the households are dependent on relief food due to severe drought conditions. "Without education, life is going to be very difficult. My parents always stressed the importance of getting an education and I hope I am bringing to fruition their word by opening this school to the community of Wee," Serena said.

More on Serena's visit: Game, Set and Serena Williams is here