Dear All,

 

Cecily's Fund was set up in 1998 in memory of my sister who was killed in a car crash whilst on her 'gap' year in Zambia.  We've now grown to being the largest supporter of education in Zambia after the government, helping to ensure nearly 10,000 orphans and vulnerable children have access to education every year.

The majority of our work in in Kitwe - in the Copperbelt of Zambia - where the AIDS/HIV and unemployment rate is particluarly high.  We work together with Zambian grassroots organisations to make sure that children who have lost one or both parents are not excluded from school for want of fees or a uniform.  We contribute towards school and exam fees, books, uniforms and shoes for primary school and secondary school pupils.  The level of our contribution is based on need - making sure that the highest number of children possible can be supported.  It means your money goes a long way - £25 pays for a child to go to primary school for a year.  And we know the name of every child that we support.

We also have a peer education programme so that once pupils have finished secondary school they can train as health educators to go back into their old schools and teach sex education, meaning that our programmes reach far more children than those directly supported.  We also fund a number of young adults through teacher training so they have guaranteed employment and they in turn can support the Zambian education system.

We also pay for the running costs of a small community school - 800 odd students with 6 teachers, books, sports kit.. and a midday meal, which for most is their only meal of the day.

How your support can help

£10 could buy a pair of school shoes;

£25 is all it costs to send an orphaned child to primary school for a year;

£50 is all it costs to send an orphaned child to secondary school for a year;

£350 pays for one of our school-leavers to train for one year as a teacher;

 

A little goes a long way in Zambia!  I hope you can help.

 

Thanks,

Philippa

www.cecilysfund.org