MAD4Africa March Newsletter by MAD4Africa Making a Difference

MAD Mail

All the latest news from MAD4Africa March 2012

MAD4Africa has built new classrooms Our Project Manager has recently spent 7 weeks out in Rwanda. I recently spent 7 weeks out in Rwanda and I can honestly say that spending Christmas and the New Year in the heat rather than the cold was a little strange! I was on hand to assist and oversee the building of the new classrooms, review how the Kiyonza Professional Training Centre (KPTC) is operating and undertake research for potential projects in the future. The classrooms were completed using experienced workers working alongside the recently graduated construction students of

2011. The furniture for the classrooms was made by the carpentry students. The sewing students were even involved in the project by helping to flatten the land around the classrooms and also by being the labourers to fetch and carry materials for the building teams. This was the first wages these young people has ever received and it was evident that they enjoyed it by the smiles on their faces on pay-day! Terms and conditions for the Workers Co-operatives have been agreed with the students,

suitable accommodation has been found and agreement reached with the Sector Office so that they can now be set up. It wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be long before the Workers Co-operatives are up and running and providing a regular income for the 2011 students. My intensive audit of KPTC resulted in a written report being submitted to the Workforce Development Authority (the government body responsible for vocational training - WDA) so that they can make sure that the Centre runs as efficiently and effectively as possible in the future. I also gathered valuable information so that

we can make sure we can use your money to the best advantage in future projects. Following an exhausting 3 days travelling around the South Province of Rwanda on bumpy tracks and roads I have identified our next potential project in Mbazi Sector (Huye District). I was particularly impressed with the Maraba VCT (Vocational Training Centre) because of the entrepreneurial skills and team work of the centres manager and his staff. They manage to do so much with so little and I am sure that the assistance MAD4Africa can give to the Maraba VCT will be well 1

UK Registered Charity Number: 1127976 www.mad4africa.org.uk info@mad4africa.org.uk

Simply text MAKE08 followed by the amount youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to donate to 70070 and JustTextGiving will donate 100% of the funds to MAD4Africa.

utilised and really appreciated. Having been at KTPC in January 2011 when the students started their courses it was an honour for me to be asked to present the students with their graduation certificates along with a number of Government officials. It was a day I will never forget as it was the culmination of several years hard work by the MAD4Africa Team to give the young people a bright future.

and the building of the new classrooms it is expected that in 2012 approximately 274 students will attend the KPTC.

I truly believe that this clearly shows the we are making a difference to young peoples lives and that we must not lose impetus or focus on what we have set out to do. We have the knowledge skills and blueprint to replicate the success of our first project I had to make a speec with we need to identify the 5 minutes notice but I made funding arrangements to sure that I praised the students make sure we can do it again for taking the opportunity and with your help and given to them and on behalf support we can! of MAD4Africa and our supporters I wished them well Eileen Gilbey in their future endeavours. In (Project Manager) 2011 there were 86 students and with the recent changes to the education system

UK Registered Charity Number: 1127976 www.mad4africa.org.uk info@mad4africa.org.uk

Simply text MAKE08 followed by the amount you’d like to donate to 70070 and JustTextGiving will donate 100% of the funds to MAD4Africa.

MAD4Africa & Barclays Partnership - New Ugandan Project MAD4Africa are excited to inform our supporters that later this year a group of our supporters from Barclays Stockbrokers (Glasgow) will travel with MAD4Africa to embark on our first project in Uganda. We are delighted that Barclays Stockbrokers have chosen MAD4Africa as their nominated charity to support this year. Deborah Page, who is a founding member of the team, is leading on this new project in Eastern Uganda. The aim is to build schoolrooms in Manafwa, Mbale District

in the foothills of Mount Elgon . There are many orphans and vulnerable children living up in the hills and they require a new schoolroom in order to provide them with an education, plus a small administration centre and store room. For now about 100 orphans and vulnerable children will be supported by the new centre with a hope to increase the support to more beneficiaries with improved school amenities. We will provide more details in future Newsletters, watch this space!

they are able to complete target and we look forward the project in September this in sharing the progress of the year. The Barclays team are project with our supporters. running a series of fundraising events throughout the year and have already started the process with a Dress Down Day in January and a Bake Sale in February.

The project has been made possible thanks to members of staff from Barclays who are busy fundraising to ensure

It is an exciting project and we wish Debs and all the Barclays team all the best in reaching their fundraising

Next is a Pub Quiz and they will also be running their own 3 Peaks Challenge in April and have runners in the Edinburgh Marathon in May – see details below. The team hope to raise £15-20,000 this year, so no mean feat!

UK Registered Charity Number: 1127976 www.mad4africa.org.uk info@mad4africa.org.uk

Simply text MAKE08 followed by the amount you’d like to donate to 70070 and JustTextGiving will donate 100% of the funds to MAD4Africa.

Edinburgh Marathon MAD4Africa is delighted to announce that we have 3 runners in the upcoming Edinburgh Marathon on Sunday 27th May. They are all in training mode at the moment as they prepare for the big race. The three runners are Brendan Henry, Mark Nicol and Paul Friel. The team met with Brendan and Mark and asked them why they were competing in the marathon for MAD4Africa. ‘When I heard a group of my I’ve thought about taking colleagues were going to go part in a marathon for a to Uganda to help support couple of years, but have a MAD4Africa education never found the right motivation project, I couldn’t help but to enter. In running for be inspired to lend my MAD4Africa I know that I’ll support to the project in any be able to give my very best way I could. and I hope I can raise awareness and money for a On finding out more about fantastic cause.’ MAD4Africa and the projects To donate: they are involved in I can see http://www.justgiving.com/ BarclaysEdinburghMarathon they make a real and lasting difference to peoples lives. Brendan Henry

Brendan Henry

‘I’m Mark and I am 24 and I am doing the 2012 Edinburgh Marathon on behalf of MAD4Africa. Born and raised in Ayrshire in Scotland, I studied Law at the University of Glasgow and now work in the Commercial Department as a Business Development Manager of a company in Woking, Surrey. Apart from my training, I spend my spare time following the success (and more recently demise) of Rangers FC and I like to play the game recreationally. My other major passions in life are travelling, electronic music and watching crime documentaries.

This will be my third marathon and I really hope to better my previous time of 4 hours 15 minutes. However more importantly, I hope that my participation will result in vital funds being raised for projects for MAD4Africa and this aspect makes the whole experience that much more worthwhile and fulfilling for me.’ To donate: http://www.justgiving.com/ Mark-Nicol1

Mark Nicol

Mark Nicol 4

UK Registered Charity Number: 1127976 www.mad4africa.org.uk info@mad4africa.org.uk

Simply text MAKE08 followed by the amount you’d like to donate to 70070 and JustTextGiving will donate 100% of the funds to MAD4Africa.

Fundraising Valentines rodeo hoe down was a rootin’ tootin’good time!

The MAD4Africa team and supporters celebrated Valentine’s Day in Wild West style this year, with another successful fundraiser at the legendary George Shillibeer pub in North London. Boots were scootin’ all night of around 100 Cowboys, Cowgirls and plenty of Outlaws, who turned up in great spirits to support MAD4Africa. It was an eventful night of line dancing and a few ol’ Wild West games, not to mention a chance to saddle up on the Buckin’ Bronco! Overall, we managed to Its 80s Time After the success of the Valentines Rodeo in February we are excited about our next fundraising event of 2012 – the return of the 80s! That’s right we are having an event dedicated to the decade that brought us happy pants, leg warmers, Kylie Minogue and some of the cheesiest songs of recent memory. There will be popcorn machines, twister and an air guitar competition so it promises to be a fun night out that shouldn’t be missed.

raise £1000, all of which will go towards providing the materials and tools required to ensure sustainability of our main project in Rwanda, the Kiyonza Professional Training Centre. The MAD4Africa team would like to express their extreme appreciation and gratitude to all of those who continue to support our work and to everyone who helped make the Valentine’s Rodeo Party a successful night. There are plans for more memorable fundraising events this year so keep an eye out for these on our website. www.mad4africa.org.uk

3 Peaks Update It will be held on Saturday 14th April at the Pepper St Ontiod in E14 9RP London from 7.30pm onwards. More details to follow soon.

The MAD4Africa 3 Peaks Challenge is back in 2012 with 30 participants, 6 drivers and 1 lone support guy (that would be me). On Friday 11th May, we will be leaving London and travelling to Glasgow where we will stay on Friday night. The following day we will travel to Fort William and commence the highest mountain in the UK. Ben Nevis After completing the highest mountain we will travel throughout the night to Scafell Pike in England. With what energy we have left the team will hike Snowdon in Wales on Sunday afternoon to complete the challenge. Once the challenge has been completed we will enjoy a few beverages in Wales before returning to London on Monday. They are competing in the event to raise money for MAD4Africa and the target is £5000. Wish the team luck! Troy Aitken

UK Registered Charity Number: 1127976 www.mad4africa.org.uk info@mad4africa.org.uk

Simply text MAKE08 followed by the amount youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to donate to 70070 and JustTextGiving will donate 100% of the funds to MAD4Africa.