Eyesight Screening

Catherine Thomas carrying out a regular screening session at the school.

The next picture shows one of the boys, Mamadu, with his new specs. He is one of the children checked and sent to the eye clinic in Kissy.

Supporting Education in Sierra Leone

Peterborough Telegraph Rotary Corner article dated 15th December 2022

Former Ramsey school teacher and Rotarian David Wallwork, upon retirement, along with his wife Janet, decided to use his educational experience to help build a school in rural Sierra Leone, 50 miles from the capital Freetown. Over the past decade, with the support of many friends and Rotary clubs, the school has blossomed and now provides quality education for over 300 children! Due to many children desperately needing to earn money for themselves and their families, in order to purchase food, they have to give up their education. This, coupled with many girls getting married at a very young age, means that less than 50% of children complete their secondary education. In fact 36% don’t even complete their primary education (Unicef). Therefore, The David School is helping to redress this. (For futher details please see www.thedavidschool.org.uk)

On one of the hottest days of the year, the current President of the Rotary Club of Peterborough, Marcus Horrell, organised a special fund-raising garden party at his home for over 100 guests. A lovely lunch was provided along with a raffle and approximately £3,000 was raised, to be divided between The David School’s work in Sierra Leone and the local Macmillan Cancer Care here in Peterborough. A recent presentation of the cheques was made at the Holiday Inn Hotel, on one of the wettest days of the year. This was in addition to ongoing support from Peterborough Rotary Club for Sue Ryder, following a wonderful golf day in May.

Over 30 years ago in 1991 the Robert Horrell Wellbeing Centre in the grounds of Peterborough City Hospital was established. The centre provides a safe, supportive and caring envirionment for both patients and carers. The multi-professional team provide a range of treatment, advice and support stretagies for patients who are living with cancer or other progressive illnesses.

1.3 million Rotarians in over 200 countries in the world help to support important projects, locally, nationally and internationally, giving practical support through fund-raising projects like this. Why not consider joining a local Rotary club and make a difference?

By Rev Clive Doubleday JP BA

Rotary Club of Peterborough Ortons

Garden Party Lunch- Pictures and Thank you Letter

The David School, Sierra Leone

Thank you for supporting this Garden Party Lunch. The amount raised was £2400 to be shared between Macmillan Cancer Care and The David School.

Our school is located in a rural area about fifty miles from the capital Freetown which is on the ocean. We work with members of a tribe called Temne who have their own language. Our village communities are subsistence farmers and are very poor. Families tend to be large.

We have educated youngsters since 2008 with an annual intake of around fifty infants. We have successes. challenges and disappointments, some of which we would like to share today.

All exams are in English and our children perform very well at 11+ and 14+ with the challenge of 16+ being a priority. Employment means moving away from the rural area to larger towns which means we lose contact with most students.

All our teachers are recruited locally and some are former pupils of the school. This is a great bonus in knowledge and relationship’s with the villagers. All our teachers are qualified, some up to graduate level.

We provide more than basic education and would like to outline a few other developments.

Keeping girls in school has been a major challenge for several years and we no longer lose many girls to early marriage. Provision of sanitary wear, guidance, raising the profile of female role models and increasing the number of female teachers have led to great success.

Special cases help to illustrate our priorities and describe how some of our donated money is spent.

Isatu Bangura is a blind girl from one of our villages, discovered in a back room aged around seven and now aged seventeen aiming for a place in university.

Mohamed had a progressive infection and was in danger of losing his leg.

Mother is herself a polio victim with several other children. Father is a subsistence farmer. The charity has provided funds for surgery, treatment and accommodation. Patients in hospital are not fed which creates additional demands. The hospital that he was in is three hours drive away from his family. The good news is that the worst scenario for him will be a lifelong limp. Bright boy now ready to start Year 4.

Sara, a boy, achieved the highest mark in 14+ exams yet at the same time lost his father, his last living relative. The charity has supported him and other orphan pupils to allow them to continue their studies. Food is provided for foster carers and we can report that this provision has been a great success.

In addition to providing basic education, these are just a few of things that have been done to enhance the lives of some of our pupils. Without your generous help and support none of this would be possible. We are proud to say that every penny raised is spent for the good of the young people in the school. Every volunteer is self- funded and we have no charity expenses.

Thank you all so much, enjoy your lunch and together we are making a massive difference to the lives of our severely disadvantaged children.

CAN YOU PLEASE HELP?

Autumn 2021

WE CURRENTLY NEED

Bars of soap

Toothpaste

Toothbrushes

Girls’ sanitary pads

Shoes and trainers

Red Gingham school uniform

Red polo shirts

Money raised through sponsorship and online shopping with Easy Fundraising and Amazon Smile

Please email us on wallwork26@btinternet for more information and advice on delivery/collection.

Sponsorship information and the necessary forms can be downloaded from this site. Click on Get Involved and then Child Sponsorship.

Bright Boy

The boy in the picture is called Sara Turey, yes a boy’s name. Very small for a boy of his age. He is with his headteacher Morlai in the blue suit and teacher Sorrie. He has achieved our best results ever at 14+, in fact he was best across the whole chiefdom(district). Sadly during the exams he lost his father, his only living relative and is now an orphan in our care. We intend to find foster carers to look after him and so allow him to continue his education.

Latest shipment to the school

On Saturday 31 July David and Janet drove our shippers in London with supplies for the school. This is the first shipment for almost a year. The consignment includes soap, face masks, toothpaste, girls’ hygiene products, classroom materials and uniforms. Our shippers are Marie Sinneh Ltd whose depot is in Bermondsey in the shadow of the Shard. Thanks to everyone who donated goods and to Ramsey Motors for the loan of the van.

Fundraise AsYou Shop

Did you know that whenever you buy anything online – from your weekly shop to your annual holiday – you could be raising free donations for The David School Trust with easyfundraising?

There are over 4,000 shops and sites on board ready to make a donation – including eBay, Argos, John Lewis, ASOS, Booking.com and M&S – and it won’t cost you a penny extra to help us raise funds.

All you need to do is:

1. Go to https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/thedavidschooltrust/?utm_campaign=raise-more and join for free or click on the link .

2. Every time you shop online, go to easyfundraising first to find the site you want and start shopping.

3. After you’ve checked out, the retailer will make a donation to The David School Trust at no extra cost to you whatsoever!

There are no catches or hidden charges and The David School Trust will be really grateful for your donations.

Thank you for your support.