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DAUNTSEY'S SCHOOL PRESENT A £19, 819.72 CHEQUE
Sept 2012
The students at Dauntsey's school in Wiltshire
chose MSP as their charity of the year. This was great news for MSP but never
could we have imagined that they would raise this truly amazing and magnificent
sum of money for us. All the students were involved and undertook a range
of fundraising activities from making and selling cakes to paddling from Devizes
to Westminster.
Money goes a long way in Kenya and this money will enable Mustard Seed to
undertake many of the projects which were currently on hold.
We cannot thank the students and staff enough for what they have done for us.
This money will change the lives of many in Mgongeni and we truly hope that
some of these students will visit the project to see quite what a difference their money
has made. THANK YOU
COMMUNITY EDUCATION FOR MGONGENI
JULY 2012
Mustard Seed have long realised that offering education to children alone would
not be enough. As well as offering health training and computer training
to women we have now started adult education classes for those who missed out on
school when they were young. Currently we offer basic reading and writing skills
in Swahili but English classes will be starting in the next few months.
Mustard Seed are also opening a small lending library working in much the same
way as a library in the UK. Initially we shall offer our services to our adult
students and to teachers and pupils in other local schools which are not as well
resourced as our own. This is a new concept for our community and it will be
interesting to see how it develops.
NORTHBOROUGH PRIMARY BUYS BRICKS FOR NEW SCHOOL July 2012
In January 2013 Mustard Seed Project's school, Miche Bora will not be large
enough to accommodate a new intake of 25 children. The children at
Northborough Primary School are buying bricks to
help build a new classroom. 993 bricks are needed at a cost of 30p each.
A local landowner sold MSP a plot of land for around half its market value as
his contribution towards a school for poor children. The plot is large enough to
build a complete Nursery and Primary school for children from 3 to 14 years but
we urgently need to build two classrooms and a toilet block for the children who
hope to join us in January (the start of the new school year in Kenya.)
FEEDING PROGRAMME FOR MICHE BORA
Jan
2012
Like most small African Charities MSP has been very concerned by the drought in
East Africa and the resulting food shortage and food price
inflation. In Mgongeni few people are starving but malnutrition is a huge
problem as people exist on one meal of maizemeal a day. For the children of
Miche Bora Primary this has ceased to be an issue thanks to a generous donation
from the Herrod Foundation a Swiss Charitable
Trust. The Herrod Foundation started supporting our children last year and we
were absolutely delighted when they decided to continue their support.
The Trust has enabled us to provide a balanced diet to our children who are
already looking healthier. The meal, which includes fruit and vegetables plus
pulses and and maize meal was deemed by the headteacher to be the sort of diet
that only the very rich could afford.
The parents are delighted with the programme and of course there are other
benefits. The children are concentrating much better in class and the rate of
absenteeism has greatly reduced!
VOLUNTEER FOR FREE IN AFRICA WITH MSP AUGUST 2012
Thinking of volunteering
abroad? Sarah and Becky above have just returned
from three weeks working at Miche Bora Primary School.
Mustard Seed Project are delighted to be able to offer free volunteering in
Africa with their grassroots Kenyan Charity. They would like to hear from anyone who feels they have
skills to offer to this disadvantaged community.
Volunteers are initially
welcomed to work in the school or computer training centre but further
opportunities will be available from the start of the New Year.
Ideally we are interested in people who have previously worked in Africa or a
similar environment. We are especially keen to hear from people with KS1 or
Nursery School experience. BUT, if you have a sense of adventure and a
desire to help in Africa we are looking for you.
Sarah and Becky are primary school teachers in the UK and have just made a
considerable contribution to Miche Bora school. They worked primarily in the
nursery but also gave lessons in the other classes. Their efforts were very much
appreciated by the teachers and by Mustard Seed Project.
And it wasn't all one way either. They loved working with our teachers and
children and very much enjoyed staying with Miriam in Nyali and going on safari.
If you would like to learn more about the girls experience do contact MSP.
DONORS GIVE HOPE TO HOPE
Hope was born profoundly deaf. In Kenya only the rich get hearing aids and
Hope's parents are very poor. MSP knew that they could not support Hope's needs
long term but felt that nursery experience would be valuable to her.
Then Hope got lucky. Thanks to two UK donors Hope received hearing aids in October 2012. It's
impossible to imagine what it must have felt like for her to hear for the first
time but the joy on her face told it all. And for us, being there with her and
sharing this precious moment was a great priviledge that we shall never forget.
But this is not the end of the story. As a result of the funding from the
donors, the children and staff at Miche Bora Primary School, Hope's mother and
Hope are being taught Kenyan Sign Language. Hope's parents are ecstatic and very
supportive and grateful for the opportunities that are now open to their
daughter. If their determination is a predictor of success the future for Hope
is now looking good.
MARY STOTT AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
Sept 2011
English trustee and founding member of Mustard Seed
Project, Rita Fowler was awarded the Mary Stott Award by the National Women's
Register (NWR) in 2010. (The photograph shows Rita handing it over to Penny
O'Bee the very worthy winner for 2011).This is an annual award for someone who
is considered to have done something exceptional during the previous year. NWR
has a national membership of 8,000 women (more than 420 groups in the UK, but
with overseas ‘sister’ groups as well) who meet in local discussion groups. In
its very important 50th year it honoured
Rita with its Mary Stott Award.
Mary Stott was a feminist and an influential campaigning journalist who worked
for the Guardian in the 1960s. She was very closely connected with the founder
members of NWR and it is in honour of her that the award is given. The award was
presented by Maureen Nichol one of the founding members of NWR.
PAUL CYCLES 102 MILES FOR MUSTARD SEED PROJECT
July 2012
Paul Furmston cycled 102 miles in eight and a half hours and raised £335 (plus gift aid) for
Mustard Seed. Paul said that on the way he endured about 2 hours of very
miserable rainy weather but the final half of the ride was very pleasant and
except for a puncture with about 10 miles to go it was almost pleasurable.
However his greatest pleasure during the ride was being greeted by his two sons
at the end waving flags!... and getting off the bike! A great big thank you to
Paul for his efforts.
Paul being greeted by his sons
NEWS ARCHIVE
Updated July 2012
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