Thank you! Enough has been raised for this project to go ahead, but don't stop giving - there are plenty of things that are still needed!

When we were coming up to retirement we were busy saving pennies, as we did not know how well we would manage. In the event, we are managing quite nicely. Not exactly rich, but we have enough for our requirements. We think we can afford to help some people who have a lot less than any of us. This is to ask you if you could join us and help to make something happen.

LinkEthiopia is a charity that helps schools in Ethiopia. It started with a link between a single school in England and one in Ethiopia, but it has grown considerably since then. It donates materials such as books and computers, and provides funds for classrooms, toilet blocks, desks, writing materials - in fact anything that is needed by schools. Ethiopia is a place where relatively small amounts of money can make a big difference. Pupils from schools in this country also visit Ethiopia, sometimes to help with short practical projects, sometimes to stay longer to teach English and help in other ways. (You can find out more at http://www.linkethiopia.org)

We have known the founder, and still active director, of LinkEthiopia for many years. We know that donations are used to the full extent for the purpose for which they are given. They are also targeted to what the Ethiopian schools say they need.

To date, most of the schools helped have been in the northern part of Ethiopia, around Gondar, but LinkEthiopia has just opened a little office south of Addis Ababa, and is starting to work with about a dozen schools there.

Dosha Elementary School is in the town of Asella, about four hours south of Addis Ababa. It is in an area which is poor even by Ethiopian standards, and helping this school is the first priority for this year. It has 1100 pupils (55% girls, 45% boys) and just 18 classrooms made of mud and wood. It is very short of desks, but even more crucially, there is no water supply.

If we can raise £2,000, this will be enough to bring in clean water, with a bit left over for some desks. Will you help us do this? We are not offering to run, cycle or swim anywhere, or put on fancy dress to attract sponsors. However, we will match all donations, pound for pound, up to £1,000 in total. Please can you put something towards the project?

John & Sue Stidworthy

 

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