The Rotary year ended on June 30th and I am pleased to report that this has been another great twelve months as regards income generation for AlansAfrica, with £32,300+ raised.
I would like to thank everyone who has donated this year, whether as a one-off gift or a monthly giver on standing order. I must also acknowledge the support of Banbury Print & Design, who sponsor all my printing and production of photos for displays, Magenta Storage Banbury who allow me free storage space for items that I ship to Sierra Leone and Sam at Books & Ink, Winchcombe for setting up my Just Giving page and general PC support – with their support I am able to say that EVERY £ raised goes to the projects, as I have no overheads. Westminster Community Secondary School
The cooking shelter for the staff hostel at the school is nearing completion. The roof has been fitted and in the next few days the concrete floor will be laid and the shelter will then be decorated and ready for use.
This, like many things for us, may not seem that important or impressive, but for the staff at the school it is another major bonus for them, as it will provide them with a covered area to prepare meals. This is especially important for them during the rainy season, which has recently started. They cook using charcoal or wood so an indoor cooking area is not feasible.
It hardly seems possible that I have been involved in Sierra Leone, initially with Mercy Ships, for just over 20 years and Alans Africa was started in January 2007. I went to Sierra Leone believing it would be a “one off” life experience, but the 11 days I spent in Freetown were life changing for me and I am now starting to make arrangements for my 16th trip in the autumn.
Since 2007 I’ve worked with ten schools, to differing levels including: funding the building and equipping of 45 classrooms, 23 with water harvesting systems, (refurbished a further 23 classrooms), provided electricity to eleven classrooms, built 9 toilet blocks (6 with water harvesting and handwash stations), sunk 3 wells and fully re-furbished another 3. We also installed a gravity fed water system providing running water & flushing toilets to a church and school community, built Momoh (a severely disabled orphaned young man) a two bedroomed house for him and his carer, installed running water and toilets to a hostel housing twelve orphaned teenagers and we have recently completed the building of a 7 bedroomed staff hostel at Westminster Community Secondary School as well as many other smaller projects.
Since it’s inception in January 2007, £430,000+ has been generated for Alans Africa projects and this is only possible due to a vast network of supporters who donate to my charitable work.
Kono Town Primary School
My next planned project is to totally replace the galvanized zinc roof at the school, which is more like a colander than a roof, and also re-furbish the entire three-classroom building. We will install “real” blackboards and have additional desk and bench sets made, as at the present time there is not enough classroom furniture for all 116 children who are attending classes. The prices of building materials in Sierra Leone are constantly increasing and the latest revised budget figure for the project is £4,725. I am hoping that we will be able to complete the replacement of the roof during the school summer holidays to minimize disruption to classes at the school and we will ensure that the additional furniture is ready for September but there may be other items of the refurbishment that may have to happen at a slightly later date. All of this is dependent on raising adequate funding to cover all the project costs.
Doris Field Charitable Trust
Yesterday I received a massive boost to the Kono Town appeal with a grant of £2,000 from the Trust and I am indebted to them for their continued support for my Sierra Leone projects
This takes the total raised so far to £3,500 meaning that we need another £1,225 to meet the target. On August 10th I will be doing, and hopefully completing, a 20-mile sponsored bike ride with a target of raising £1,300 which will give us just a small amount of contingency.
It is over 20 years since I’ve ridden a bike and I must thank Phil, a fellow Rotarian, who has lent me his. I’ve had it serviced, but was a little surprised that they hadn’t fitted stabilisers!! Since it’s service, we have had two weeks of very hot weather so my training so far has been somewhat limited but I am confident(ish) that I will be able to complete the challenge.
EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY “All the gear, but little idea”
I am going to undertake the ride at Draycote Water, a reservoir near Southam/Rugby about 15 miles away. There is a five-mile cycle track around the reservoir and one of the main reasons for doing it there is that they have toilets and a café so I will have all the facilities. Sam has set up a Just Giving page for me. If you wish to donate, please visit the link below. Gift Aid is not available through the site BUT I can claim it, if I know your details, when I draw the funds down after the event. EVERY £ raised will go to the project and will “Make A Real Difference” to Kono Town Primary School. THANKS for any support.
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/alansafrica-konoprimary
