Jerry Ballinger and Andrew Davies are members of Gloucester Severn Rotary Club and they have decided to support the Minchinhampton Nkokoto Link by doing a sponsored weight loss in January and February 2024.

Nkokoto is a rural village in western Tanzania. The Link is run by volunteers around Minchinhampton and 100% of all donations goes directly to Nkokoto.

Jerry and Andrew are supporting children who did not succeed academically but have chosen to attend a Folk Development College (FDC) which offers vocational training. The Link sponsors 6 new students every year onto this 2- year residential course in the town of Urambo. Success is high; 29/30 students graduated since 2018. Courses include Tailoring, Vehicle Mechanics, Domestic Electrical Installation, Carpentry or Welding. Other classes include languages (Kiswahili and English), civic education, business, computing, environmental conservation, health education, religion, life skills.

The Link provides FDC graduates with tool kits to help them find employment. Four years ago, a group pooled resources to form a Tailoring Group which, amongst other work, the Link now employs to make uniforms for 62 students sponsored across all schools.

Costs vary according to course but the annual budget at the FDC is £235 for each student and £170 for a tool kit.

Thank you for your support. You are directly giving young adults a chance to qualify in a trade, which is an opportunity which otherwise would never be available to them.

And....what about the weight loss???? From a starting weight of 18st 10lb (01Jan24), Jerry is down to 17st 5lb (29Jan24). Andrew started at 15st 9lb and is down to 14st 3lb (29Jan24). Still counting; please help motivate them further.