Desks and books

Being in an African school makes you appreciate how many resources British schools have. There is a big shortage of desks, and chronic shortage of textbooks - the teachers has one from the government, but the children have to buy their own. Consequently, there are usually 3/4 to go round a class of around 70.
Amy, my housemate, has a fund to buy things for the school, so has ordered 15 desks to be made by a local carpenter. I am going to buy, ideally, 3 or 4 off her, and as many textbooks as I can afford. We negotiated desks down to around 16pounds (30,000 Shillings) each, and can have any names hand-painted on the front by a sign-writer. I am investigating textbooks. The price varies hugely - from about 3 pounds 50 to 10 pounds. I know I will buy a bare minimum of three to give as a gift to Allan's children, our Swahili teacher from the first week, and 'Tanzanian Father' (he came round for tea and chocolate pudding on Thursday, I forgot to mention).

I am always so aware and grateful of how much people have supported me in coming to Africa, so am more than willing to fund this personally (and pay it off from working in the summer). If, however, you would like to contribute anything at all, even if it is just a few pounds, it will make a huge difference. If any groups or individuals would like to sponsor a whole desk, I can get the name painted by a sign-writer and take a photo of it in use. This is not a 'charity appeal', it is simply letting you know how I would like to help the schools. If you would like to contribute anything towards the costs, please let my mum, Sarah, know and she can transfer any money into my account. sarah@warefamily.org.uk 01751 430734.

Thank you. I will keep the blog updated with anything I buy.
Lxxx