Fundraising Update!

Ok – as promised in the previous post https://friendsofpakati.com/2020/07/31/from-rural-student-to-international-teacher/ here is an update on our fundraising…and below (pic) is the reason for the donations – see https://friendsofpakati.com/2020-vision-friends-of-pakati-the-project-continues/

Pakati Primary school, September 2019 – first ever IT lesson for a handful of students

Back in January this year, I weighed in at 113.4kg or 17 stones 9lbs – see https://friendsofpakati.com/2020/01/14/day-one-of-the-authors-challenge/ – That was the starting point for me to lose weight, and to try & get people to either donate a fixed sum, or sponsor me according to how much I could lose.

As can be seen from the picture above, I have made it down to 99.3 kg (14.1kg loss) or 15 st 9lbs (2st = 28lbs loss). It is ongoing now until 1st October this year in terms of fundraising. However for my own health and well-being, I do intend to continue for as long as I can.

What this has meant is that some colleagues at my workplace have lived up to their promise to donate once I got to 2st lost! In the last few days therefore a total of £87.00 has been added to our total – to find out how well we are doing, see our Fundraising page at https://friendsofpakati.com/fundraising/

Students at Pakati Secondary school earlier this year seen using one of the laptops donated in September 2019

Having spoken to Debbie Chadbon recently, I hear she is planning to do something herself to raise funds for Friends of Pakati. Originally she was set to do a 10km run in Bristol where she lives. Due to the Covid 19 outbreak, it got cancelled. Now I hear she still plans to do a run of some sort, gain local publicity, and hopefully will get sponsorship ftom that. Fingers crossed🤞🤞

Learning by playing computer games is new to Pakati students

How can you help? From the 2020 Vision page mentioned above, it is not just computers that are needed. To provide access to the internet really would open up the students to a modern learning experience. Redecorating the classrooms would enhance the learning environment. Providing furniture and other classroom essentials would improve the students motivation. To support the poorest here really would be lifechanging. Please donate whatever you can, whenever you can and spread the word among your contacts.

http://gofundme.com/friends-of-pakati

or

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/my/settings?flow=cmV0dXJuVXJsPS9teWFjY291bnQvc2V0dGluZ3MmY2FuY2VsVXJsPS9teWFjY291bnQvc2V0dGluZ3M=

Thank you.

Author:

My name is Chris Walker, and between January 1989 and September 1991 I worked, through VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas), at Pakati Secondary School in Murehwa South district in Zimbabwe. I was a Maths teacher for 2 years, the Acting Head for the last 8 months there. I have also taught in Botswana & the UK, had 4 years working for VSO, and have been a Civil Servant in Bradford since 2005.

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