Cecily's Fund New Year Newsletter 2017

New Year Newsletter

2017

Go For It! Our 20th Anniversary celebrations have begun - it's your time to make an impact!

2 | Cecily’s Fund

Happy New Year From Cecily’s Fund Social | Keep up with us on Twitter, Facebook

and

YouTube

at

/

cecilysfund and on Instagram at cecilys.fund

About and Contact | Cecily’s Fund is registered charity 1071660.

Our

work

makes

education possible for orphaned 2017 is here and our 20th Anniversary celebrations have officially begun!

and vulnerable children in Zambia.

Throughout this year, we’ll be marking two decades since Cecily’s Fund

Email

began working to use education to change lives in Zambia.

admin@cecilysfund.org

A number of supporters have already begun fundraising efforts, with more to

Phone

join them during the year. We’ve also begun planning a very special Cecily’s Day

01993 358 089 / 186

for Saturday 2 September: the first to take place in Witney. You can read more about our celebrations, and how you can take part, in this issue.

Post Ground Floor, 6 Church Green,

Also, catch up on the results of our 2016 Christmas Challenge, read an extensive interview with another of our supporters who visited Zambia last July, and learn how one of our alumni won a prestigious business award.

Witney, Oxon, OX28 4AW Website www.cecilysfund.org

We wish all our supporters a very happy new year and hope you’ll continue to support and follow us with interest in 2017.

In this issue

Cecily’s Day 2017 Saturday September 2 A Celebration of The

Our 20th Anniversary Year Begins!

3

Twentieth Anniversary of

Four Inspiring Success Stories to Start the Year

4

Cecily’s Fund

Supporter Focus #7: Mary Fletcher

6

St. Mary’s Church, Witney,

Partner Interview: Kambole

7

Christmas Challenge Raises £22,621!

8

OX28 4AW Communion Service of Thanksgiving, 11:45am Picnic, 1.15pm

New Year Newsletter 2017 | 3

Cecily’s Fund 1997 - 2017: Our 20th Anniversary Celebrations Begin!

Early raisers: how supporters got 20th Anniversary fundraising started in 2016 |

Marc raised over £1,000

by

completing a cycle from London to Brighton...

It’s here! 2017 has come around, and our year-long celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Cecily’s Fund has begun in earnest.

A number of supporters have pledged to fundraise for us and a very special Cecily’s Day will take place in Witney on Saturday September 2.

All we need to complete the celebrations is your support, to help raise an extra £20,000 and help make 2017 not just a milestone, but also a new high point for our life-changing impact in Zambia.

...Kate took on the world triathlon championships in Mexico, raising £750...

From our origins in 1997, Cecily’s Fund has steadily grown over two decades to become a key driver of change in Zambia, using education to help break the cycle of poverty for good. We’ve positively impacted thousands of young lives, but so much more needs to be done - and that’s where our 20th Anniversary campaign comes in.

Your donations and fundraising will make a huge difference this year: 

...and Verity and Tim completed

£5 supports our feeding programme at BISO Community School



£50 helps pay the school fees for a child for one year



£75 is enough to train a Peer Educator to provide the guidance and skills children need to stay healthy and fulfil their potential.

the first-ever Swim Serpentine,

Be sure to check our website (www.cecilysfund.org) for our fundraising

raising a total of over £2,000!

pack and details of upcoming events, or donate online. Your support has made our work possible for 20 years - in 2017, it can help us make our biggest impact yet!

4 | Cecily’s Fund

Four Inspiring Success Stories to Start the Year “Fresh Start taught me The work of Cecily’s Fund has become increasingly varied over the years.

These four success stories are inspiring examples of how our work is broadening opportunities for young people. We’ll be sharing many more

how to have a brand and run a business.” -

Isaac

during 2017!

1: Cecily’s Fund Student Isaac Wins Top Business Prize in Zimbabwe Talented artist and Cecily’s Fund student has won the prestigious Africa Regional Company of the Year awards 2016 held in Harare, Zimbabwe. Supported through the Cecily’s Fund ‘Fresh Start’ programme, Isaac impressed judges to beat entrants from 12 competing countries and will use his prize money to support his fees at medical school.

“Isaac was selected among our partners under the out-of-school youth programme”, explains Teddy Nyasulu, Executive Director of Junior Achievement Zambia. “It is from here that Isaac’s unique artwork was selected.”

“Through what I learned in the Fresh Start programme I was unbeatable.”

The award category “businesses run by out-of-school youth” required a presentation, a business plan, and a special stall which was inspected by judges. Isaac’s innovative technique using small pieces of cut up paper and magazines instead of paint was not only cost-effective but highly unique and won him a cash prize, certificate and trophy.

Now at medical school, Isaac is able to follow his dream of studying medicine and says “through what I learned in the Fresh Start programme I was unbeatable.” Cecily’s Fund is delighted and proud of Issac’s success and wish him all the best for the future!

New Year Newsletter 2017 | 5 2: Out-of-School Youngsters Train With Top Football Team Cecily’s Fund has supported the founding of a football team for out-of-school youth in Kitwe’s Kwacha ward. In September, our partners CHEP were able to organise a very special opportunity for the team - the chance to train with top -flight side Power Dynamos.

Based in Kitwe, Power Dynamos play in Zambia’s Super League, the top The team train at Power Dynamos’ stadium

football division which they have won six times. The team from Kwacha ward was able to train alongside the Dynamos’ top players, under the supervision of their head of training Mr Sakala.

They were also inspired by their meeting with Ronald Kampamba, once captain of the Nkana team who now plays in Egypt. Kampamba is himself an orphan, who is familiar with the difficulties out-of-school youth face and which our work is helping them to overcome.

3: Top Music Producer Inspires Sunshine Clubs Zambia has a thriving music scene, and Antwan “Tonny Breezy” Katongo is one of its foremost producers, working alongside numerous popular artists. Late last year, a number of young people Cecily’s Fund supports had the chance to meet him.

Sunshine Clubs - a part of our Connecting Communities programme - are always searching for role models to meet with young people who are out of school.

Tonny Breezy, an orphan himself, organised four music workshops attended by Sunshine Clubs support young people in a number of ways

21 young people with musical talent. Afterwards, many of them felt inspired by the producer’s perseverance, and intend to pursue music as part of their efforts to secure an income for themselves. Tonny Breezy even invited two of the young musicians to join him in the studio.

This work is a great example of how Sunshine Clubs are inspiring young people who are out of school to identify and build upon their talents and skills.

4: On the Cover: A Barber With a Bright Future On the cover of this issue is Penza, a young barber and businessman we have supported. Penza helped provide one of our favourite photos of 2016, in which he gives our co-founder Basil a haircut!

Penza is 20 years old and received business skills training through Cecily’s Fund and our partners CHEP. He has now been running his barber shop for a number of months and business is steady. Although his aunt helps look after him, Penza now has some income of his own and a great chance at becoming independent Penza cuts Basil’s hair, July 2016

and self-sufficient.

6 | Cecily’s Fund

Supporter Focus #7: Mary Fletcher Mary has a strong connection to Zambia. In the latest in our series of supporter interviews, we learn about her background, how she became a supporter, and about her experiences as a fundraiser.

CF: How did you first come into contact with Cecily’s Fund?

MF: I was born in Zambia in 1959 in the Copperbelt area. My mum had gone out to teach from England and met my dad in Zambia who had travelled from Ireland to work as a pharmacist. They met, got married in Chingola where I was born, and then moved to Kitwe where my sisters were born. Very sadly my father was diagnosed with cancer, became very ill and died leaving my mum with 3 little girls all under the age of 5.

Consequently mum packed up and returned to England to be with family and friends.

Children at BISO community

She never returned to Zambia and neither had I until 6 years ago when I decided to visit

school in one of Mary’s photos

to see where we had lived and to find my father’s grave. Martin (my husband) and I were in Kitwe and having difficulty finding exactly where my father was buried. I met Alison by

from her trip to Zambia in July 2016

chance, we got chatting, and told each other our stories of what had brought us to Zambia.

Alison put me in touch with Dr Sixtus Mulenga who is a Zambian resident and patron of CF. He helped us find my father’s grave which we would not have done on our own. It was such an emotional and wonderful time for us, my mum and sisters back at home. It was also the very special beginning of my relationship with Cecily’s Fund.

CF: Why is supporting Cecily’s Fund important to you?

MF: There is of course the personal link which is being born in Zambia but also meeting

Food is prepared at the com-

Alison and hearing how the fund arose from Cecily’s initial support with orphaned

munity school

children. I feel a strong link and commitment to Cecily’s Fund. I have also been extremely impressed with the way in which Cecily’s Fund supports young people through education and the fact that very little of the funds go on administration. I have seen how CF makes such a difference to many young people’s lives.

CF: How would you describe your visit to Zambia in 2016?

MF: The visit was also emotionally exhausting and rewarding at the same time. We met so many young people who live in poor and very difficult circumstances but were working so hard and progressing with Cecily’s Fund’s support, confirming education is the route out of poverty.

CF: What would you say to someone thinking of fundraising for Cecily’s Fund?

MF: Go for it! It doesn’t matter how small, big, adventurous or not…just do it. I was very nervous about it and decided to do an afternoon coffee, tea and cake afternoon for friends and neighbours. I was amazed how generous people were and we raised over £600 altogether after a 2 hour get together!

Children enjoy their nutritious lunch, supported by Cecily’s Fund

New Year Newsletter 2017 | 7

Partner Interview: Kambole Many Thanks to 20th Anniversary Fundraiser Judy |

In this issue our questions are answered by Kambole Chilambe, who is an intern with our partners Afya Mzuri. He tells us all about his work, his past roles, and

his own

background.

CF: What is your background?

Cecily’s Fund is very grateful to our

KC: I am a single orphan, my father passed away when I was three years old. I

supporter Judy Leggott, who has

was brought up by my mother who has raised us through selling local

been a fantastic fundraiser for our

timber. When I passed to go to grade 10 at Chimwemwe Secondary, I was

20th Anniversary campaign since

helped by the Cecily's Fund Education Support Programme. After I completed

she returned from the Zambia trip

my secondary school in 2013, I was trained and selected to be one of the Peer

last July. She’s raised a wonderful

Health Educators from February to October, 2014. I later trained as an

£1,595 - thank you Judy!

Advocate in the Advocacy for Change (A4C) project at Copperbelt Health Education Project (CHEP), funded by Cecily’s Fund. Since then I have remained an active member of the Twibukishe Cecily Alumni.

I did not only volunteer at CHEP/Afya Mzuri but I also worked with other NGOs

King Alfred Talk Raises “Great” Total |

namely Red Cross (Zambia), PPAZ, CHAMP and U-Report.

Under the Zambia Red Cross/Disaster Management Mitigation Unit I managed and coordinated the Disaster/Transit Camp in Kitwe at Helen Kaunda Secondary school ground for homeless people whose houses were demolished by the Local authority.

CF: Can you describe what your role involves? (a). Entering data for all community activities into the database and verify the data submitted by the ward committees. (b). Arrange events, meetings, and support the Sunshine Leaders in both

Supporter

and

historian

Suze

Mathews held a special talk in aid of Cecily’s Fund in Charlbury on Sunday 15 January. The subject

sunshine clubs (in and out of schools.) (c). conduct spot-check visits in the seven wards under the Connecting Communities project.

was “Why Is Alfred Called Great?”

CF: What would you like to do in the future?

and it raised a total of £265

If all goes well financially I would Love to become a medical professional

towards

because I have it within my heart to save people's lives. Nevertheless, due to

our

20th

Anniversary

campaign. Thank you Suze!

the experience I have had with this internship program I have started developing interest in social work.

8 | Cecily’s Fund

Christmas Challenge Raises £22,621!

Last year’s Christmas Challenge proved to be another important success, thanks to the enthusiasm and generosity of our supporters. To date, £22,621 has been raised, comfortably beating our target of £20,000. This amount is enough for Cecily’s Fund to continue making powerful changes in young lives in Zambia: paying school fees, training Peer Educators, providing business skills, and more.

Thank you so much to everyone who donated, made purchases from our shop or fundraised for us. Your support makes a huge impact but there is still more we can do: becoming a part of our 20th anniversary campaign is a great way to help us take our work to the next level in 2017.

Donation and Gift Aid Form Help Us Educate More Children in Zambia Bank Standing Order Mandate (please also fill in the left-hand side)

Yes, I want to give Cecily’s Fund £ This time

o annually o or monthly o (please tick one)

o 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

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: £

taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify. I understand that the charity

o quarter o year o until further notice

will reclaim 25p of tax every £1 that I give.

Each month

Title:

Date of first payment

First name or initial(s):

Surname:

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