Friends of Pakati is now into its 31st month online, and still going strong! In spite of everything – including the Author’s recent health scare (see https://friendsofpakati.com/2021/07/08/from-the-author-thank-you-to-the-nhs/ ) we continue to find new people to introduce, new stories to tell.
We have some new material to post soon, and a number of new stories promised. We have some new publicity on the way. We have new merchandise being produced. We have an event to attend to spread the word. Briefly, therefore, below is a summary of what is coming up in the next few weeks:
▪︎Firstly, I have heard from a sibling of one of my former students, Hatipedzi Tsinya (pictured below), whose brother John is currently living in the UK. I am waiting for the chance to tell her story, and that of her family. I taught her & her brother Lawrence, and was Acting Head for their younger sister Dadirai, who was in Form 1 in 1991.
▪︎I am absolutely assured that our second video will be completed very soon & released/published soon after
▪︎Just this last few days I have done a wide-ranging interview with a journalist from the local newspaper from my home town of Scunthorpe. We discussed my health scare, my support for Scunthorpe United, and of course, Friends of Pakati. Likely to be published in next week’s Scunthorpe Telegraph.
▪︎I am also waiting for one of The Team Caro Foundation – Lynne – to write her story for us. Find out more about Team Caro here https://friendsofpakati.com/2021/06/13/great-new-support-welcome-to-the-teamcaro-foundation/
▪︎New merchandise has been ordered through a new provider, and we are adding t-shirts to our range. More badges have also been ordered.
▪︎Lastly, there is the event I hope to attend on 7th August at Brooklands Hotel, not far from Heathrow Airport. I will be giving a brief speech about who we are & what help we need. Hoping to be well enough by then to attend, even if its not the full event. Dr MamboKadzi Tsitsi, organiser, said this:
“I figure, if you want to be who you want to be, you should go ahead and be one. We need people who are so strong they can be gentle, so educated they can be humble, so fierce they can be…As a positive change maker – I have no country, I want no country. As a humanitarian/positive change maker my country is the whole world, I have chosen to no longer be apologetic for my Humanity. And I want to be respected in all of it. See you Brooklands Hotel & Spa WOPI – Appreciating Positive Change Makers 7 August 21 http://www.womenofpurpose.me.uk/tickets ”
I am sure there will be a lot of things to say after this event! I will report in full on my return home.
Half way through this 3rd year I feel there is still much we can do to help Pakati schools, nit just in terms of our original aim of getting some computers to them. If you can help us, please do by contacting friendsofpakati@gmail.com or donate to http://paypal.me/friendsofpakati Thank you!