Fundraising
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It is now over four 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: by the end of 2011 we had funded the construction of 37 schools plus the refurbishment of a small medical centre and the construction of a new water supply for an entire village, pumped by wind power!
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.
Extreme Marathons!
Carmine de Grandis, a teacher from Norfolk, has been running extreme marathons to raise money for us. In August he completed the Alpine Marathon in Switzerland and followed this with High Peak Challenge - 40 miles off road!! He is super fit ... and a super supporter! Mille grazie, Carmine!
Harry Ford tells of his fundraising climb of Kilimanjaro.
In September 2010 I left England on an adventure to the roof of Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro. I had always wanted to climb Kilimanjaro, but never thought I would be able to do it. I decided to self-fund my trip and then raise money through sponsorship from friends and family to raise money for Building Schools for Africa. I trained hard and received an incredible amount of support which led me to raise £2,466 for BSFA.
The climb up was tough but by far the best experience of my life. The friendships you make within the group, the stunning views and the alien environment really made me appreciate this journey. I would like to thank the team at BSFA for their support and I would encourage anyone else who can, to give Kilimanjaro a go!!
Both Carmine and Harry created their fundraising pages through Just Giving. .
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
and follow the simple steps for setting up your own fundraising page.
Who else has been raising funds for us?
These are just some of the fundraising events that have taken place over the past few years. Maybe they will inspire you to raise some money for us to build yet more schools in remote African villages.
Boxing For Africa The most amazing night of amateur boxing was held in October 2009 at a prestigious hotel in the City of London. The event was a huge success and has funded the building of two primary schools in Cameroon. Have a look at the chaps training and the schools they were fighting to raise money for. Click on the links for two YouTube clips below.
A Wild Affair A hugely successful lunch party with plenty of excellent food and wine, a bumper raffle and a silent auction, accompanied by swing bands, brass bands and jazz bands(!) was held in September 2009 in Gloucestershire. The aim was to raise the money for one school but they excelled themselves!! .... they actually raised the money for two schools, the construction of two wells and the completion of another drinking-water supply!! Our very grateful thanks to Nicky Colwyn and her team for all their hard work to put on this fabulous event. Their efforts have changed the lives of thousands of poor people in Cameroon.
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. It was such a simple idea - but it raised just over £750 - so you can imagine, the food was delicious!
Singing for Schools (again and again!)
So many people on the Isle of Wight seem to enjoy singing - and supporting our charity. We occasionally have concerts at Newport Minster so, if you are on the Isle of Wight, please come and join us. Perhaps other enthusiastic singers would like to organise a 'Turn up and Sing' event to raise money for us. It is such good fun!
The Hairy Haggis Marathon 2008/2009
Following on from the success of the Heriot Watt Rag Week students Hairy Haggis run, another intrepid team entered this terrific 'relay' marathon in Edinburgh in 2009 and raised 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 the team of university students!
Cycle the Wight 2008, 2009, 2010
Every year a group of around 20 enthusiastic cyclists of all ages join in the annual Wayfarers Cycle the Wight on the May bank holiday weekend. This BSFA fundraising event is organised by Nick and Nicky Hayward, who always provide a slap-up lunch for the cyclists after their ordeal. It's worth all the agony of those up-hill stretches!
Schools for Schools Many schools in both the UK and the USA have undertaken a variety of fundraising activities to raise money for us.
Lambeth Academy held an amazing Comedy Night featuring Jo Brand, Mark Thomas and many other comedians. They also ran a Kareoke night featuring the Rockeoke Band and some members of staff still had the energy to take part in the Three Peaks Race. This was a mamouth fundraising appeal, over a period of two years, and raised sufficient funds to construct 6 classrooms, a Headteacher's office, a new toilet block and a drinking water supply at IPS Bamali.
Amherst Regional High School, Mass, USA have raised almost $30,000 over the past couple of years to fund the construction of 3 classrooms and a toilet block at the village of Ber and a much-needed water supply in the extremely remote village of Nkanchi. They have been really inventive in their activities, which included a talent show, a duck race and a Man Pageant (a spoof on Miss America!)
Albany Science College, Lancs undertook to devise, design and set up some very special Christmas Games stalls to raise money for us at a school fayre.
Dixie Heights High School, Kentucky USA ran a couple of talent shows which raised almost $2,000 which they contributed to Lambeth Academy's fundraising appeal - and set up a pen-pal scheme between the two schools.
And our youngest pupil support to date came from Norwood Green Infants and Nursery School, which sent us the funds they raised one summer at their International Picnic.
Many, many other schools have chosen Building Schools for Africa to benefit from their fundraising activities - and we are SO GRATEFUL. They are always featured in our News column on our Home Page when we receive their funds.
Some other fundraising events held during over the past few years
Illustrated talks given on the Isle of Wight to:
The Isle of Wight Beekeepers Association
Cowes Rotary Club
Ryde Chorus members
Yarmouth W.I.
A Bingo night in Brook Village Hall.
A Carol Concert (Carols for Cameroon) at Northcourt, Isle of Wight
London Marathon
Amsterdam Marathon
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
Sheffield Springs Academy
and Percol Coffee - an award-winning company which champions Fairtrade Coffee
We have also received large corporate donations from organisations which prefer 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 thirty six!!
Last Updated ( Sunday, 06 November 2011 )
