Updates and News from the Saituni Fund
Newsletter for the friends of the Ringa School and Orphanage
Thank you for waiting so long for this next newsletter. As I look back at the last newsletter I find with horror that it is almost a year since I last wrote. For this I can only apologize, the newsletters were supposed to be monthly not annually. I shall endeavor to keep up the schedule from now on.
Any volunteers out there to take on this job of typing these newsletters.
A lot has happened over the last year. Thanks to your contributions and donations and sponsorships we now have six brick built classrooms each with a permanent roof. The benefit of this is that we can now collect rainwater into a large tank. It is good that the children can now have clean drinking water. I know it is only run off water but that's the best it gets for the moment. The well that we dug is now used as a backup for the dry season. At the moment there is plenty of rain and the crops are doing well. The last two rainy seasons have failed and there was a national shortage of food. On my last visit I saw all around me crops failing. Then imagine my surprise when I saw our field of maize which seem to be thriving. Nothing short of a miracle.
As well as the six classrooms we have an assembly hall under construction we also have an office for the head teacher and the administration. The staff are happy and enthusiastic at the progress that has been made. Recently we have managed to give them a small rise, sadly they are still nowhere near the national average wage. The main motive for working is to see the children educated rather than for monetary gain. The children remain happy and content they are eager to learn and well disciplined. Truancy is not a problem in our school.
We have recently had a visit from some young students from Canada. We were so grateful for that visit and their subsequent visit. They had a big impact upon the children, also the children had a big impact upon the visitors. It was a very emotional day. There gifts and contributions to the school made a big difference and encouraged everybody. Also on my last visit I took two men from England and Scotland, Ron and Bill respectively the children will never forget these visitors and they will never forget the children. I am always looking for people to come out and have a visit to the school. To see the children with a big smile on their face, despite living in abject poverty is a sight to behold. If there are any volunteers out there who would like to come with me on my next trip you may contact me direct by phoning 07875694368. I look forward to hearing from anybody who would like a life-changing experience.
Recently, in this country in a fishing village in Cornwall a group of young people had a fund-raising event that raised 500 pounds in one night and thanks to their Enthusiasm and the generosity of the local population the school was greatly blessed.
I want to thank you for your support for the fund raisers the sponsors and the well wishers. And hope that it continues for this worthy cause. I want you to realize that because of people like you there are now 232 children receiving an education and being fed on a daily basis because of your efforts. Please don't give up. These children now have a hope for the future where there was none before.
If you wish to hold a fund-raising event please contact me on the phone number above and I will make sure that you get all the available information and advertising bullets photographs and details to make it a success. Let's not forget, Christmas, although three months away is looming large on the horizon. It is my desire that each child in school receives a gift for Christmas. Something that is common here, but a rare event in our school region. Let us see if we can make it a common occurrence for them also.
Thank you so much for reading this letter, the school wouldn't exist without you.
Yours faithfully.
Chris Hirst.