Supporting Education in Harkersville South Africa - 2018

A Rotary plea from the heart of South Africa prompts the club to donate £300 to the Rotary Club of Plettenberg Bay's project for Harkersville School.


Still Not A Bay Of Plenty For The Children

A Rotary Plea for Help

While much has changed for the better, the plight of indigenous children in the townships has altered little, particullarly in the area of education.  Although Plettenberg Bay is a beautiful spot on the the famous Garden Route, one can find  riches and poverty side by side there.

Rotarian Peter Adams, visiting the UK from this Rotary Club, explained to us at lunch on August 12 that his club has worked with Born In Africa for 15 years to raise money to improve education of needy children in his area

We were so moved by his presentation that the club agreed to a donation of £300 to this excellent cause.

More “Godparents”

Peter had explained: “This partnership has proved most successful.  Over the years “Godparents” were recruited with each set of “Godparents” funding one child, but rising costs have necessitated more than one “Godparent” per child.  Although demand can outstrip supply, this Program now meets the ongoing development of some 400 children in different schools, colleges and university.”

Peter focussed on one school, Harkerville School just south of Plettenberg Bay.  He said: “The grounds are owned and overseen by the Anglican Church of South Africa. Two years ago it was in danger of closing, but support from Rotary, a new headmistress, additional teachers, and a remedial facility, has seen pupil numbers grow from 70 to 130 in 2017 and 244 this year.

Rotary, with other Plettenburg Bay donors, have repainted the school, waterproofed roofs, planted trees, started a vegetable garden and, with the help of a District Grant, installed permanent room dividers to replace the ineffective curtains used to separate different classes.”

Good Progress

There was much more but the keynote of Peter’s address was simply “Rotary is trying to raise the USD15,000 required to obtain a matching Global Grant. (see below).  Good progress has been made and we are past the halfway mark.”
His presentation ended with the screen Afrikaner thank you - “Baie Dankie” !
Peter’s talk invited many questions,, not least:
How many white children are involved with the project?  Answer from Peter:  “It is essentially the non-white children of Africa who need our help and education.”   So, little has changed in 2018.
Peter’s talk drew generous applause, a vote of thanks from president Les, and the above donation of £300. 

What a worthy cause.

What are the needs?

  • Educational equipment and computers
  • Furniture- class room and recreational
  • Security- perimeter fence and buildings
  • Painting of new buildings inside and out
  • Water storage, reticulation and solar heating
  • Kitchen facilities - crockery, cutlery, glassware, cupboards
  • Staff facilities- staff room, furniture etc.
  • Outdoor playground equipment- swings, jungle gym, etc
  • First aid training/ equipment
  • Firefighting training/equipment
  • Notice boards, signage and storage
  • Sports equipment & Playing field upgrade

Related pages...

Crocuses Flowering

Purple4Polio 2024

more We planted 4,000 crocus corms around the Billericay sign on Stock Road which make a stunning display

PDG Jed and IPP Michael with the Buck's Bucket

Foundation Awards 2024

more Our club received four "First" awards from Rotary International and Rotary GB&I for Rotary Year 2022-23.

Victoria Kawira

Student Sponsorship

more We sponsor two students through Senior School

Welcome to Billericay

Purple4Polio Crocuses 2023

more Our plantings from November 2022 bloom!

Disaster!

Earthquake Disaster

more 72 Hours...three days. For our small Rotary club a period that proved that, when called to action and adversity, we act fast and do not hold back

Where is Moldova?

People Of Action - Aid for Ukrainians

more The Rotary Clubs of Billericay, and Billericay Mayflower, got together to help deliver aid to Ukrainains in Moldova.

What are Grants for?

Foundation Seminar 2023

more Held on APril 1 - and it's NOT a joke!

Paella Consumption

End Polio Party 2023

more We continue to support Rotary’s efforts to rid the world of Polio.

We need your help

Help Our Children - Madagascar

more A project led by the Rotary Club of Alba which we are supporting through our twinning relationships with that Rotary Club.

The Stats!

Smile Train 2023

more We donate one thousand pounds to support Smile Train's work to cure "Clefts" worldwide

Thank you so much

Modernising Moldova 2023

more We reported in August and October on the aid provided to Ukrainians in Moldova, but the main purpose of the trip was to provide new washrooms and toilets for two junior schools in Moldova at Sloveanca and Mindresti Noi.

The Team

Purple4Polio

more We plant 4,000 purple crocus corms around the Billericay sign on Stock Road to publicize Rotary's Purple4Polio and And Polio Now campaigns.

Our Foundation

Every Rotarian Donates Every Year - 2023

more We receive recognition for all our members donating to The Rotary Foundation at least $100 every year

Every Rotarian Every Year

New Award from Rotary Foundation

more We are one of only six percent of Rotary Clubs worldwide to donate over $100 to the Rotary Foundation each year.

The School Assembled

Borewells Status

more Member Margaret Fowler visits Embu County, Kenya to establish funding requirements to repair any faulty Borewells.

End Polio Now Vaccination Campaign

End Polio Christmas Quiz 2022

more Have Fun while supporting this great End Polio Now cause by entering our Christmas Fun Quiz. Donate £20 for each Quiz sheet you want. You CAN help rid the world of Polio.

4000 Crocus Corms Planted!

Purple for Polio 2022

more We planted 4,000 crocus corms around a "Billericay" sign as part of Rotary's Purple for Polio Campaign.

Foundation Citation

Foundation - The Heart and Beat of Rotary

more Every Rotary Club of Billericay member donated over $100 to the Rotary Foundation in 2022

View of the Terrace

End Polio Now 2022

more Everything we do in Rotary has a good charity reason. None better than End Polio Now – a charity close to all Rotary hearts, So, members offered at least a £20 a head donation to our Fundraiser.

Foundation Chairman Martin Sulley

2022 Foundation Donations - Every Member Every Year

more District Foundation Chairman thanks our continual support of The Rotary Foundation

All the Attendees

Rotary Foundation Funding 2022

more The Rotary Foundation is Rotary’s own charity, always top of the charts for its governance and efficacy, and the source of funds for District and Global Grants, supports Rotary’s End Polio Now Campaign, and is home to the Disaster Response Fund

The Service at St Mary Magdalen

Crisis in Ukraine - Flame Burning Brighter

more Club Member Margaret Fowler (Associate Priest based at Christ Church, Billericay) organised a service to raise money for Ukraine at St Mary Magdalen, Billericay High Street.

The Team at work

Crisis in Ukraine - Humanitarian Help 2022

more Club Member Rev. Margaret Fowler Reports on Her Recent Efforts in Support of the Fleeing Ukrainian Refugees

Trick Convoy on Route

Crisis in Ukraine - Moldova Manoeuvres

more We help fund the Rotary Club of Billericay Mayflower's convoy with Aid to Moldova

Members Assembled

District Foundation Lunch

more A Celebration of all the good work which Rotary Foundation does in the world on the anniversary of Foundation's formation.

Purple for Polio

Bloomin' Marvellous

more 4,000 purple crocuses bloom in the grounds of Christ Church, Billericay, in aid of End Polio Now

Moldova and the location of the school

Moldova and Beyond - 2021

more We help fund a project by the Rotary Club of Billericay Mayflower to build a toilet block in a school in Gradinata, Moldova

End Polio Now 2021 - The Challenge Goes On

more Everything we do in Rotary has a good charity reason. None better than End Polio Now – a charity close to all Rotary hearts, So, guests offered at least a £20 a head donation to our Garden Party Fundraiser.

Lucy Mbogo (LHS) and Rtn. Ruth Ndwiga (Embu RC)

Honouring a New Paul Harris Fellow

more We were delighted to award a Paul Harris Fellowship to Mrs Lucy Mbogo, Headteacher of ACK Ena Primary School, and previously of Ciamanda Primary School, both in Embu, Kenya for tremendous amount of Community work she drives

The Team assembles for the walk

Walking for Heroes

more Club members band togethor to sponsor a walk raising money for vulnerable children in Billericay

Help India Breathe Again

Covid Crisis in India

more Members used links between Rotary Club of Billericay Mayflower and Rotary in Calcutta to send donations to help the Rotary Club of Calcutta Visionaries' "Breathe Again" Programme in Calcutta - help is needed immediately.

Amateur Orchestra of Catalonia

International Music Concert 2021

more We were invited by Lorenzo Gallo of Alba club in Italy to attend a concert by the Amateur Orc hestra of Catalonia arranged by the Rotary Club of Sant Cugat in aid of the workshop Jeroni de Moragas, supporting people with mental or developmental disorders

Thanks for your support

Harkerville School Project

more We supported the Rotary Club of Plettenberg Bay and its partners at Harkerville School

Margaret Fowler - as featured on Facebook!

2019 Support in Kenya

more Working and visiting Embu in Kenya for ten years to support the community there, with two trips in 2019

We're all in this together!

Rotary Foundation Reacts to Covid-19

more Rotary is committed to End Polio but is also addressing Covid-19. Its own charity immediately changed its rules to help fund the Covid-19 fight and mobilised its Polio teams to fight the disease

Water flows from the new Well

Water Boreholes in Kenya 2020

more Our first borehole is completed at Ciamanda primary school, bringing the Gift of Life to the pupils and neighbours there.

Terrible Fires devastate huge areas

Bush Fire Relief in Australia 2020

more Our member visits the area and hands over our club donation to the relief effort

Polio Vaccination in Action

Polio Kicked Out Of Africa

more The World Health Organisation has declared Africa free of wild Polio after 4 years without any cases. Club Member Chandra Gupta recalls how he led our club's part in the long haul to end Polio and reach this dramatic moment.

100% Giving Club

Every Member Every Year 2020

more Our club is the only club in our Rotary District to achieve over $100 donation to Rotary Foundation by every club member

The old way of collecting water - Magaca School

The Gift of Life 2020

more Following our successful completion of a well providing fresh clean water to Schoolchildren at Ciamanda Primary school, we have raised enough money to fund three more wells for three new schools in Embu County, Kenya

The derelict shelter

Mwondu House Project, Embu Kenya - 2020

more Club Member Margaret Fowler reports on the house for a desperately in need family and for which she was the driving force to raise money

Life Straw in action

International Project - Life Saving Straws

more We join our International "twinning" clubs in funding Beausoleil's “Life Straw” project

 A room full of Fellows

International Day Lunch

more 136 Paul Harris Fellows attended a lunch to celebrate the birthday of Rotary International, and we received a certificate for our financial support of the End Polio Now - for the second year running.

Embu Rotary Club ... and Rtn. Margaret

Drilling for Water -Kenya 2019

more First steps in delivering secure water supplies in Kenya through new boreholes.

Mercy Ship at sea

Mercy Ships Donation 2020

more We joined other Rotary Clubs in Great Britain and Ireland in donating to the Mercy Ships 2020 campaign

Thank you plaque

School Success in South Africa

more Our Club's seed money has helped fund repainting, roof waterproofing, tree planting trees, a vegetable garden and, with the help of a District Grant, installed permanent room dividers between classrooms

Foundation

Rotary Award 2020-21

more We receive a banner from The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International for our Fundraising and Support activities

Plaque celebrating our support

2019 Bansang Hospital Donations

more We support new male medical and surgical wards at Bansang Hospital

Enjoying the company!

Centenary of the Rotary Foundation

more We celebrated a hundred Years of the Foundation at a dinner on July 31, 2017, also attended by other local Rotary Clubs

Secondary School Pupils in Ciamanda

Supporting Education in Ciamanda 2018

more Our very own member, Rev Margaret Fowler, enlightened us on June 4 about her eighth visit to the African continent and Ciamanda, Kenya and its need for support for secondary education.

Masizame Logo

Masizame 2016

more In December 2015, we donated £500 for school uniforms to the Masizame Children's Shelter. Our support for the centre has recently been recognised in an email to our club.

Nepal after the 'Quake

ShelterBox Links with Rotary

more ShelterBox thanks Rotary for their continued support and help.

The Fight against Ebola

more Main beneficiaries of our Grand Raffle were charities involved in the fight against Ebola. This year's main recipient was Medecins Sans Frontieres, from whom a most moving letter of thanks has been received.

Help fight Ebola & Sponsor Disaster Relief.

Fighting Ebola In The Market Place

more Billericay Rotary Club's annual Grand Christmas Raffle is in Aid of Charities facing the threat of Ebola, ShelterBox, and other charities supported by Rotary.

Child & Youth Care Centre children in their new uniforms

Masizame Children's Shelter 2015 - II

more The Shelter expresses its gratitude for the generous donation to fund new school uniforms for this year.

Masizame Children's Shelter Bus Appeal - 2015

more Masizame Children's Shelter - urgent support needed to help feed, shelter educate and provide counselling for these abused children. Immediate need - funding to replace a decrepit bus.

Outstanding achievement - Billericay Rotary club received a Bronze award.   We donated over £10,000 to fund 25 Shelter Boxes for international disaster relief.

Shelter Box Donations

more In an outstanding achievement - Billericay Rotary club has gained a Bronze award for donating over £10,000 to fund 25 Shelter Boxes for international disaster relief - a notable achievement in charitable donations.

The ShelterBox Team after the work is done.

How many Rotarians does it take to ...

more How easy is it to erect a ShelterBox tent? Our Rotary Club decided to find out and try a test set up to document the process.

ShelterBox Donation to the Philippines

more ShelterBox saves lives ..again. The latest of our sponsored boxes goes to the Philippines.

Our latest Box goes to Zimbabwe

New Club ShelterBox Donations 2014

more ShelterBox saves lives ..again. Our latest sponsored box goes to Zimbabwe.

Aid to Kosovo

more We were privileged to have as speakers the two Ingatestone postmen, Dennis Sweeting and Steve Biggs, who have taken the time to organise a convoy of clothing and other vital materials to the stricken people of Kosovo.

End Polio Now

more Billericay Rotary Club hs supported the End Polio campaign since 1987, as a club initiative and in support of Rotary International's campaign to "End Polio Now". Highlighting Rotary's contribution in the Press is great publicity and encourages donations.

International GSE Team visit 2011

more Group Study Exchange supports travel for teams of non-Rotarians from a variety of professions. This records briefly the visit of the GSE Team from Brazil in 2011.

back to page above this...

What it was like.

Foundation & International

back The club's activities in support of the Rotary Foundation and International links.