A Newsletter from Gill Norrris in Nkwanta
14th April, 2008
Dear All,
I thought I would use this letter to update you on how all the money you have raised has been used here since I was last in the UK in October.
As you know, the Sports, Arts and Cultural Training Centre was finished and has been in use since November. We had a schools meeting and decided to try to allocate time for schools to come over during lesson time so that they could do some sports. This was partially successful, but here there are no school minibuses, everyone has to walk. However, eight schools are on a rota to use the Centre during the day.
Children doing the Nkwanta Award come for sports on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. We still have to use another football area as ours is not covered in grass yet. In October over 500 children came with grass to plant the place, this was a bit late for the rains but it is now growing well and 150 children will come to weed this weekend so that the grass can spread.
We have held several meetings and two conferences at the Centre using the Conference Hall. In December we hosted the Regional Farmers' Day where the best farmer for each crop is given gifts and politicians make lengthy speeches. In February we had the official opening of the Centre, more speeches but a lot of participation by school cultural groups. Hannah Rowe who visited recently has a CD of photos taken at that event that she will pass for use on our website. Poly tank donated two large plastic tanks so that we could harvest water from the roof.
We have held three teachers training sessions in practical science, literacy and social studies. These are good fun, but the teachers have not really made too many changes to their way of delivering information. We have also hosted two training sessions on HIV education for teachers and two for primary school children.
The Nkwanta Award continues to grow. As with the D of E, the expedition is the favorite part. We have taken 350 children to camp in Kyabobo National Park. Eight groups in all, most of which staggered to the waterfall, a gruelling walk. 160 children doing silver walked to the most remote village in our area, camped and interacted with the people there. For Gold, we took 15 children on a difficult walk through the Park to a camp called ‘Bad Legged"( it used to be a farm owned by a man with a bad leg). This group got very tired as the terrain was difficult. We ran a wildlife competition for the Award participants, two winners from each school were sent to Mole National park, the first time any of the travelers had seen elephants. This is a relatively expensive venture but we share the cost with Wildlife.
The workers were keen to start the school and the foundations were dug in January, it was not until last week that they started to lay the footings, fix the pillar bases and they will go on to raise the foundation blocks. We have just heard that we have received a generous donation which will allow the work to continue to lintel level. When the girls come in October, the building should be recognizable.
We are now preparing for two days of Craft and skills activities at the Centre, followed by a sports day training for children. Adults are beginning to use the gym facilities, but even paying the small amount we ask is hard for most people.
Since October, we have spent about 17,000 sterling, much has gone into setting up the Centre, starting the school and running the Award scheme. Now we must concentrate on the school building, although we have commitments to other activities as well. I thank you all for your continued support. I know that the 2008 team are working really hard, not just to raise money but also to collect valued items for shipment next month. There are many regular donors through Friends of GEP and occasionally we receive larger sums. I wish that you could all visit and see how much good you are doing and appreciate how highly we are regarded in the District and beyond.
More news next time,
Gill
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