Fundraising
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It is now just over three years since we started fundraising for Building Schools for Africa – and we have enjoyed far greater success than we had ever imagined. We saw our first school built in 2007 and filled with enthusiastic pupils who are eager to learn, and a further four schools were completed in 2008. Seven more schools were constructed in 2009 and a further eleven in 2010. Two more schools are ready to start in 2011 and we are also undertaking the construction of a small medical centre and a wind-powered pump for water for an entire village. We have also managed to fund additional classrooms at three of the schools funded in 2008 and 2009.
We are thrilled with the support we have received for these projects, and heartfelt thanks go to all our supporters over the past three years.
Schools for Schools
Many schools in both the UK and the USA have undertaken a variety of fundraising activities to raise money for us. Details are on our Building Schools page.
Fundraising Dinner Party
Two of our supporters generously opened up their house to friends for a dinner party - and charged them for the pleasure of the evening.
Just over £750 was raised - so you can imagine, the food was delicious!
Singing for Schools (again!)
Another concert in Newport Minster, arranged as a Thank You to our Island supporters ended up raising another £1200. Everyone was so generous.
Boxing For Africa
The most amazing night of amateur boxing was held on Saturday October 24th at a prestigious hotel by St. Paul's Cathedral, London. This event has funded the building of an entire school in Cameroon. More details on our Home Page. Full details at www.boxingforafrica.co.uk
A Wild Affair
A hugely successful lunch party with plenty of excellent food, wine and jazz was held in September in Gloucestershire. The aim was to raise the money for one school .... they actually raised the money for two!! Our very grateful thanks to Nicky Colwyn for all her hard work to put on this fabulous event.
The Age of Stupid
A showing of this extremely powerful and thought-provoking film was arranged by one of our supporters (thanks Lou!) at the Quay Arts building on the Isle of Wight. Not only did we raise considerable awareness of the threat of climate change, but we also raised quite a lot of money... over £300 in fact.
The Hairy Haggis Marathon 2009
Another intrepid team entered this terrific 'relay' marathon in Edinburgh this year and have raised to close on £1000 for us. A million thanks to Geoff, Frank, Ita and their other team mates for making this considerable effort for us. I think they won't mind my saying that they aren't quite in the same age bracket as last year's team of university students!
Cycle the Wight 2009
Once again a group of nearly 20 enthusiastic cyclists of all ages joined in the annual Wayfarers Cycle the Wight on Sunday 3th May. The Building Schools for Africa Team had a great cycle round and managed to avoid the rain that had been forecast. Some members had travelled down to the island with their bikes on either the Friday or Saturday in order to set off from Westbrook at 8.30am, with Simon Mayes once again escorting everyone in his truck in order to collect anyone with problems. Luckily this year there were no punctures or accidents and everyone arrived back at Westbrook for a welcome meal and relax. Sponsorship money is still coming in but will be nearly £600.
The only hold up was was when all the different teams of over 2000 cyclist descended onto the tiny Floating Bridge ferry from East Cowes to West Cowes.
Singing for Schools
Around 100 people turned up to the Newport Minster, Isle of Wight, on April 7th to sing the Faure Requiem: the collection raised £350 for Building Schools for Africa.
Huge thanks are due to Bob Johnson (pictured handing over the money to Marianne) Philip Fryer (our conductor) and Canon Stephen Palmer from the Minster .... and, of course, everyone who turned up and sang so beautifully.
Some of the fundraising events held during the past two years
Illustrated talks to:
The Isle of Wight Beekeepers Association
Cowes Rotary Club
Ryde Chorus members
Sponsored Bike Ride – Cycle the Wight
Bingo
‘African School’ Dinner Parties
Turn up and Sing Messiah in St. Thomas’ Church, Isle of Wight
Carol Concert (Carols for Cameroon) at Northcourt, Isle of Wight
London Marathon
Amsterdam Marathon
Heriot Watt University Students Association RAG week
Lambeth Academy’s Comedy Night and Kareoke night and Three Peaks Race
Percol Coffee – an award-winning company which champions Fairtrade Coffee – have recently funded the construction of GS Buh village primary school. Percol's new African Range is available in many Tesco and Waitrose stores.
http://www.percol.co.uk/charities/children_in_africa/schools_for_africa.html
Corporate Donations
Significant donations have been made to Building Schools for Africa from the following companies.
Clymac Ltd. Loughborough
Liz Earle Beauty Company, Isle of Wight
Carisbrooke Shipping, Isle of Wight
Percol Coffee
Sheffield Springs Academy
Blue Sky Foundation
And a large London-based company which prefers to remain anonymous.
We are hugely grateful for these donations which have allowed us to increase the number of schools we have helped to rebuild from our initial dream of just one …. to twelve!! And more schools will be built in the coming months.
If you are organising a fundraising event for us, you might like to create your own fundraising page through JustGiving. Your supporters could use this page to send money directly, and securely, through to Building Schools for Africa. Please go to www.justgiving.com/buildingschoolsforafrica
and follow the simple steps for setting up your own fundraising page.
Last Updated ( Monday, 02 August 2010 )
