Easter Newsletter 2014
Emerging Zambian Entrepreneurs During her most recent visit to Zambia, trained in entrepreneurship skills.
“It’s a blessing. Most of the drop outs
Cecily’s Fund Director Molly Brech visited
now have hope. It’s like it (Fresh Start)
the school in Chazanga run by the Bwafwano
Integrated
Services
Organisation (BISO) to see 60 young Zambians graduate from our Fresh Start programme.
Each
graduate
had
completed 17 modules of business skills, including setting up and closing down a mock company.
Mrs Chola, BISO’s CEO, opened the event telling the young people, who have been supported through school so far by Cecily’s Fund, that Fresh Start has “given you the means to move away from a position of dependency and to feel
empowered
to
contribute
to
Zambia’s development.” For many of these young people, the certificate they
BISO's playground - normally teeming have received is a significant milestone.
has given them a second chance. It’s going to be a huge milestone for them, to do this programme. Some were pregnant, married off and now they are attending entrepreneurship and back to school sessions. Most African girls don’t think about the future. Now they are really
taking
it
on
and
we
are
encouraging them a lot.”
with excitable crowds of children - was They may have to juggle caring for Your support for opportunities like this transformed for the event, with the Fresh relatives, siblings and earning a meagre helps young Zambians to secure a safe Start trainees proudly sporting suits. living with the desire to go to school. livelihood. If you would like more Underlining
the
importance
of
the Until Fresh Start started, they did not information on Fresh Start, please do not
occasion, CEO of Junior Achievement have the opportunity to learn about hesitate to get in touch. Zambia told the young people, “you are business. In Zambia, the business world not vulnerable people - you are young is seen as separate from school life, but entrepreneurs.”
this project is changing local attitudes,
The graduation ceremony was a part of Cecily’s Fund’s three year Fresh Start
as
the
benefits
of
entrepreneurial
training are more widely understood.
project with DFID UK Aid to help BISO works very closely with the local Zambian orphans who are at risk of community in all its work, and it has dropping out, to return to education. spent time informing everyone about Once back in school regularly, these Fresh Start. One young girls brought children
learn
how
to
run
mock both her grandfather and her sister
companies, so that they can gain skills along to support her at the graduation, that will help them to contribute to their as they have both really encouraged her family’s income. In addition, children we to complete the course. A Fresh Start have helped all the way through school, trainer, Anna, who is 20 years old, who have been unable to get a job, are explains the impact of this project:
CEO of BISO, Mrs Chola, pictured with two Fresh Start graduates in Chazanga on February 22nd, 2014
George wants to be the first in his family to complete school “I was born in 1996. My father he left me work as a garden boy to pay my school before I was in grade 3. My mother (who is fees. I assist a police officer, fetching water, a maid) still lives in Kitwe but she is re- doing other work. I explain my situation to married and the step father does not like teachers. If they can help me, they will. me. He shouts at me saying - ‘I don't want you, your own father did not support you and us we are suffering because of that’. I have a young sister who remains with my mother. She does not get along with my step father and I worry a lot about her. The step father, he drinks. I don't want to confuse my mother's marriage so I stay George is supported by Cecily’s Fund and is currently in his final year at school
away. I was a charcoal burner (making charcoal from wood to sell) in grade 8 so I could support myself. I would buy soap, socks and lotion with the money I raised from selling charcoal. I would sell it at the lowest price as I needed the money so much. Even during school I would raise some money. I
I didn't manage to get everything for school. My shoes were very badly damaged and the teacher asked me why. I explained my situation and so (Cecily’s Fund and local partner) helped me with a school uniform and some shoes. I still have those shoes now. They are nice.’ Young people like George can struggle to attend school regularly, often due to factors
outside
their
control.
George
missed three weeks of school, as he had to travel across Zambia to get the original certificate for his grade 9 exam. He now dreams of being the first in his family to complete school, and then joining the army.
Hope gains confidence as a peer health educator with CHEP Hope is a current “Advocate 4 Change” School fees were really hard to pay and this with the Hands on Learning project, a really affected me a lot as I thought why partnership between Cecily’s Fund, Comic should I not be part of kids going to Relief
and
CHEP
(Copperbelt
Health school? I wanted to have hope like the
Education Project). Hope was helped to others. complete school by Cecily’s Fund and she also
did
the
peer
health
education
programme with CHEP. She is now 21 years old, and she is working with Itimpi community in Kitwe. She told us:
To be a peer educator and an advocate, you have to be very strong to talk in front of people and at first I did not have the confidence. The peer health education programme with CHEP helped me a lot. It
“I thought I was the only orphan but the has given me skills and also the confidence problem was actually an issue in my whole to help train and educate others. I can raise Hope is a current “Advocate 4 Change” with the Hands on Learning Project run by Cecily’s Fund, Comic Relief and CHEP
community and after the training (with awareness of issues facing orphans in CHEP) I discovered more orphans and education now. I like to say that it is better vulnerable children like me existing in my to have a heart without a word than a word community. During my education, the main issue I faced was having no food at home. I was not an active participant in my community.
without heart. Now I have the courage to be able to commit to my community and also I have the heart to look after orphans and make life better.’’
Ruth is passionate about becoming a doctor We
interviewed
Ruth,
after
she
had boyfriends
or
it's
problems
with
accepted her certificate for the Fresh Start sponsorship, especially when parents die. programme. She was a pupil at Bwafwano, There's one girl at my school at the and then sponsored through secondary moment who is pregnant. I don't think she school in a local government school by will come back. Studying and looking after Cecily’s Fund. She reflected on the help she a baby, it's too hard”. has received from staff.
As part of the Fresh Start project, Mrs
“Mr Kataso (BISO Head of Education) is so Chola, CEO of BISO, did a presentation to useful, it has really helped me so much. It's Ruth and her friends about how to set up a real privilege for me. I manage to go to your own organisation: school fine enough but my problem is text books. They don't allow you to take them home. I need science textbooks most especially, so that I can do extra study at
'Mrs Chola came to speak to girls at my school. She is my inspiration. She has
Ruth studied at BISO and
called us for a meeting here since then.'
has just collected her Fresh Start certificate
home to become a doctor”. and Ruth is very clear about what the future orphans in particular dropping out of holds: “I have this passion to be a doctor in school, she says “at times it involves the future. I am looking forward to achieving it”. Explaining
the
reasons
for
girls
Save the Date!
Follow Us!
The annual Cecily’s Fund celebration and picnic taking is place this year on
Saturday 6th September In Stonesfield, Oxfordshire Further details to follow
www.cecilysfund.org
facebook.com/cecilysfund twitter.com/cecilysfund youtube.com/cecilysfund
For all the latest updates
Connecting Classrooms: Linking UK and Zambian Schools Cecily’s Fund has partnered with BISO, a ‘It was really fun. It was the same way of community-based centre for children teaching as we have normally but affected by HIV in the outskirts of the different subjects in the lessons. We capital city Lusaka, since 2004. We actually learned quite a lot.’ currently provide salaries for the six teaching staff, a midday meal for every pupil and administration costs for the project’s school, which educates 650 children from pre-school to Grade 4. We also sponsor children to progress on to local government schools in the area.
Mr Kataso was asked by British pupils to explain the biggest differences between school in the UK and in Zambia. He pointed out that pupils at BISO have generally lost one of both parents, and that as demand is so high for learning,
Bambala Kataso, Head of Education
they split the day into three sessions of
at BISO’s community school, will visit
BISO’s Head of Education, Mr Bambala two and a half hours. Most children at
Stoke Row school again in 2014
Kataso will visit the UK this year, on a BISO therefore have two and a half British Council-funded scheme to share hours of taught supervision per day. He teaching practice globally known as said that BISO, with 650 students, is Connecting Classrooms. Mr Kataso will much bigger than a country primary be returning to Stoke Row School in school in the UK. Mr Kataso explained Oxfordshire in May as part of a linking that British children are very privileged scheme with Stoke Row’s teacher Gillian to gain access to text books and learning Fraser, who worked with Cecily’s Fund in materials. In Zambia, text books for the the past. Gillian will travel out to BISO children are very rare. There are not later in the year to complete the project. This is the second year that the British Council has funded the exchange. Gillian and Mr Kataso made a short film of their
enough books available for each child to have their own. Teachers generally use one text book and copy out sections for children to learn by rote.
programme last year, as part of the Children in BISO and Stoke Row were Global Citizenship curriculum. Children each
asked
what
qualities
were
in both countries reported that the important in a teacher. Stoke Row pupils project was a really good chance to get responded that teachers should be to know one another better, and to encouraging, patient, smart and sporty, understand what life was like in a so that the pupils can learn to have a completely different environment from healthy life. Zambian pupils said that their own. Many of the children were teachers were vital to helping them surprised by the similarities in interests- become educated, so that they could get both
Zambian
and
British
children a job.
enjoyed football, art, and spending time with friends and family. When asked
Please keep an eye on the news section
on our website for the opportunity to what it was like to be taught by Mr meet Mr Kataso when he comes to Kataso, pupils at Stoke Row responded: Oxfordshire again in May 2014.
To see a video of Mr. Kataso’s 2013 visit to the UK and Stoke Row school, visit our YouTube channel.
Coming up: bid for celebrity school reports during new online campaign As part of the celebrations of our 15th anniversary year, Cecily’s Fund has made a creative partnership with London advertising agency BETC to auction celebrity school reports to raise funds and build awareness of our work. Celebrities including Idris Elba, Joanna Lumley, Alison Steadman, James Nesbitt, the new Dr Who actor Peter Capaldi and many more have generously given us “school reports” with funny and ironic stories from their own schooldays. As well as being a fantastic keepsake and an insight into their lives, the stars’ contributions will be linked to the stories of the children we are supporting in Zambia, who rely on our support for the chance to go to school. The celebrity reports will be auctioned online in aid of Cecily’s Fund in June and July, with a major print, broadcast and on-line media campaign to raise awareness of our work alongside the event. As the auction approaches, we would really appreciate your
Joanna
Lumley
celebrities
is
one
contributing
of
the
a school
report to the forthcoming campaign
help in spreading the word about this very special opportunity via social media. The auction is scheduled to take place over ten days from 25th June to 4th July 2014. Please put the dates in your diary and look out for further news about the auction nearer the time.
A Sunday in Spring at Wotton House On March 23rd over 60 guests joined Basil and Alison Eastwood for a wonderful luncheon with music and theatrical entertainment, as guests of David Gladstone at historic Wotton House in Buckinghamshire. Spring had arrived! The house and gardens looked beautiful, and before lunch our guests were treated to sonatas for viola, harp and flute by Ravel and Debussy played by a talented trio of Royal College of Music students – Cassandra Hutchings, Jihyun Chang and Laura Peh. Following an excellent three-course meal, Basil Eastwood gave a moving personal presentation on Cecily’s Fund and the pressing need to support the orphans and vulnerable children of Zambia. Later we were entertained by Caroline Friend, performing one of Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads pieces, ‘A Bed Among the Lentils’, with extraordinary conviction and recall, and Angela Knapp delivering a comic critique of Wagner’s Ring Cycle in impressive operatic style. Guests were treated to a house tour by our host and admired the early 19 th century country house designed by John Soane and its newly-decorated interiors. We would like to thank all our friends who supported the event and particularly David Gladstone for opening his house to us so generously for the day. The event
Wotton
House
in
Wotton
has so far raised just over £2,500 for Cecily’s Fund, which will make a real
Underwood,
difference to the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children in Zambia.
played host to A Sunday in Spring
Buckinghamshire
Inspiring supporter events open 2014 Two excellent events took place in the first two months of the year to open the calendar of supporter-run events in 2014. In January, the latest in Peter Clifton’s series of “Poems and Prose in a Pub” events took place at the Rose and Crown in Charlbury, Oxfordshire. Those who attended heard readings from Elizabeth Wade’s unpublished novel The Last Post, Pam Nixon’s But I’ll Remember This and Nick Hooper’s The Lie of the Land. The event raised over £90 for Cecily’s Fund, and another instalment in the series is planned to take place later in the year.
The Senior Street Sextet and friends at The Spice of Life, Soho, February 23rd
Your Event Here!
On February 23rd, The Spice of Life in Soho, London played host to a very successful jazz and blues evening organised by Cecily’s Fund supporter Chris Conway-Hughes. His band, the Senior Street Sextet, played with some special
Are you running an event
guests and the 100-place event was sold out. Cecily’s Fund chairman William
or
Powlett-Smith attended and gave a short talk about the our work. The show
challenge for Cecily’s Fund?
has so far raised almost £2,500 for Cecily’s Fund and donations are still being accepted at Chris’ Virgin Money Giving page. http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/seniorstreet
Supporters take on fundraising challenges This year, Cecily’s Fund supporters are taking on exciting challenges at both new and well-established events. Two longstanding supporters have already completed big challenges, and you can still donate via online fundraising pages. Sarah Richards (pictured opposite, left) attended the same school as Cecily Eastwood - Bedales School in Hampshire - and completed the London Marathon on April 13th. Including Gift Aid, she has so far raised an amazing £2,000 for Cecily’s Fund. http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SarahRichards3 Corinna Witt (pictured bottom right) is an Associate of Cecily’s Fund and a former trustee who was responsible for the charity's website until 2010. At the Berlin Airport Night Run event on April 12th, she completed a 10,000 metre run to raise money for Cecily’s Fund. http://www.justgiving.com/Corinna-Witt/ Philippa Tolmay is Cecily’s sister, a Cecily’s Fund trustee, and also secretary to the board. Philippa and her colleagues at Doughty Street Chambers will once again be running in the British 10K London Run. This year’s event takes place on July 13th. Cecily’s Fund still has a number of guaranteed charity places available for this event - if you would like to take part in the run and to raise money for Cecily’s Fund, please get in touch and we can send you an application form.
taking
part
in
a
Please contact us and we can
feature
newsletter
you
in
the
A quick guide to fundraising online for Cecily’s Fund There are now more ways than ever for you to raise money for Cecily’s Fund online. It’s not just sponsored events that you can take on to help support our work - you can also turn everyday tasks like selling unwanted goods, buying all kinds of products and services or even just searching the web into ways of supporting the education of children in Zambia. Here is a quick guide.
Buy
Sell
Search
Online retailers are now the go-to
If you find yourself needing to sell on
You might be surprised by how much
choice for many purchases. Did you
any unwanted goods, this can also be
money you can raise just by searching
realise that you can raise money for
a good opportunity to raise money.
the
Cecily’s Fund each time you shop on
When you sell items through eBay,
(supplied by EasyFundraising) and
the web - at no extra cost to yourself?
you can mark them as charitable items
EveryClick (supplied by Give as you
Give as you Live and EasyFundraising
and select Cecily’s Fund as your
Live)
both
when
chosen charity. You can select any
donations for Cecily’s Fund each time
purchasing from a huge range of
amount between 10% and 100% of
you search. The sites aggregate results
popular retailers. All you need to do is
the proceeds to go directly to Cecily’s
from a variety of popular search
sign up to one of the services, and
Fund.
the
engines, so that you can raise funds
click through to the retailer you need.
satisfaction of knowing that the sale of
without compromising on the quality
When you pay, they will make a small
your unwanted items - anything from
of
donation which will be collected by
books and DVDs to clothes and even
EasySearch as an example, you could
Give as you Live or EasyFundraising
cars - has helped to fund our work
raise as much as £20 a year just by
and transferred to Cecily’s Fund.
with the most vulnerable children in
making ten searches a day.
allow
you
do
this
www.giveasyoulive.com www.easyfundraising.org.uk
Then,
you
can
have
internet.
allow
your
Both
you
search
to
EasySearch
secure
results.
small
Taking
Zambia. pages.ebay.co.uk/ebayforcharity/
www.easysearch.org.uk www.everyclick.com
Requesting donations in lieu of gifts One of the simplest but most satisfying ways of raising money to support Cecily’s Fund’s work to educate vulnerable Zambian children is to ask for donations in lieu of gifts when you have a special occasion coming up, such as a wedding or birthday. Ann did exactly that. “It was so nice waking up on my birthday knowing I wouldn't be facing a huge pile of presents to open, and that someone somewhere else would benefit!" she says, "It was just refreshing, and actually quite liberating, not to feel bombarded with lots of things I don't actually need, much as I may have loved some of them. I can recommend it!” For more information about donations in lieu of gifts, online fundraising, sponsored challenges or any of the other ways you can become a part of Cecily’s Fund’s work, please visit our newly updated “Get Involved” web pages at www.cecilysfund.org
Forthcoming Events in 2014 There are a number of exciting events coming up in 2014 to raise money for Cecily’s Fund. From classical music performances to the 17th annual Charlbury Beer Festival, there is something for everyone to get involved in. If you are running your own event to benefit Cecily’s Fund, please get in touch - we’d be very happy to hear from you. For more information about all of these events and to find a regularly updated online version of this list, visit our website at www.cecilysfund.org Saturday 17th May
Rotary Club plant sale - Woolgate Centre, Witney, Oxfordshire
Saturday 7th June, 11.15am
Greenwich architectural walk - beginning at Cutty Sark, £15 donation
25th June - 4th July
Cecily’s Fund Online Celebrity School Reports Campaign
Saturday 28th June
Charlbury Beer Festival - Charlbury Cricket Club, Oxfordshire
Saturday 5th July, 7:30pm
Mozart and Françaix performances - St. Peter’s Church, Petersfield, Hampshire
Saturday 6th September, 1pm
Cecily’s Day - Stonesfield, Oxfordshire, further details to follow
Saturday 20th September, 7:30pm
Purcell performance - St. Peter’s Church, Petersfield, Hampshire
Donation and Gift Aid form Yes, I want to give Cecily’s Fund £ This time
(please also fill in the left-hand side)
annually or monthly (please tick one)
I confirm I have paid or will pay an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for each tax year (6 April to 5 April) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all the charities or Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) that I donate to will reclaim on my gifts for that tax year. I understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify. I understand that the charity will reclaim 25p of tax every £1 that I give. Title:
First name or initial(s):
Surname:
This is an instruction to your bank. Please fill in the form, return it to us, and we will process it for you.
Please pay Cecily’s Fund CAF Gold, Sort Code 40-52-40 A/C no. 00089893 The sum of: £ Each month
quarter year until further notice
Date of first payment Bank name
Full home address:
Bank address
Name of account holder (s)
Post code:
Account number
Date:
Sort code
Signature: Please contact Cecily’s Fund if you need to amend these details or cancel your Gift Aid declaration
Signature Date
Please return the form to Cecily’s Fund, Ground Floor, 6 Church Green, Witney OX28 4AW Cecily’s Fund is a UK Registered Charity number 1071660 and a member of the Fundraising Standards Board Scheme: FSO137