Back in Maronka with my girls

Hi Everyone

The time has flown by and it is so good to be back with the girls. As many of you will know my daughter Hayley and grandchildren (Kaylem and Sienna) came out with me for a visit and they enjoyed the experience. Hayley loved her time teaching the Sparrows but not so much the spiders. Kaylem said his favourite thing was washing with a bucket in the wash yard and Sienna enjoyed swimming with Miriam. It was lovely to have my family here and it made me feel very proud and blessed. Even though the time was short we managed to get to visit all the schools, the beach and the chimpanzee sanctuary too.

This cheeky chimp threw stones at us and we were not allowed to throw them back!


All the girls seem to have grown such a lot and there are mangoes everywhere in Maronka, you cannot move for mangoes and almost everyday the children bring me mangoes, which is just as well as I don't much fancy climbing the trees for them myself.

The girls packing mangoes to send to their friends in the Lumley school and eating lots of them too.

We have been working on some new projects as ever. We are doing some research into setting up a bicycle project with the Rolal school in Port Loko and I had the task of going to see the First Lady at Presidential Lodge to ask for her support with shipping items into the country. She was very supportive and has given us a letter to approach the Minister of Education, so prayers or fingers crossed please everyone that we get a positive result for EducAid.

We have also been working on behaviour management in the house and the school and talking to the children about the importance of Respect and Love for one another. They have come up with lots of good ideas so far and it been very heartwarming to see the children thinking of positive ways to be kind to each other.

Some pics of Hayley, Kaylem and Sienna in Maronka ; )

















Isata has got everything running smoothly in the girls house so I will be doing some work at the Rogbere school site from the 21st May with the Women's Project and business mentoring in the local community there so I will be splitting my time between Rogbere and Maronka. I am both excited and nervous about this new challenge and will keep you posted on how it all goes.

A typical Sunday in our house, playing scrabble, balance ball, hair plaiting, cooking and WASHING......its still here, I don't know why I ever thought it was going to reduce.

Thats all for now folks.............much love Ann, Isata, Miriam and all the Maronka girls xxx

If you want to know more about our work, get involved or you know of someone else who would like to volunteer or support our work, get in touch annbeatty@educaid.org.uk

If you ever do any online shopping, or even if you think you don't (because you might in the process find it is cheap and easy to do so) please do sign up.  We will be most appreciative and you will definitely be making a difference to our work in Sierra Leone.

                     http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/educaidsierraleone

If you are interested in knowing more about EducAid's work with vulnerable young people, please go to 

http://www.educaid.org.uk/ and http://www.educaidsierrleone.blogspot.com

You can keep up with the currrent news and activities at the EducAid Face Book website:

     FB page: http://www.facebook.com/groups/48572325218/

Huw's film about the Girls' Safe House

Huw PW, a long-term friend and supporter of EducAid, visited the Girls' House a few months ago and spent the day filming and photographing.

Here is the first of his films: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSWvjqvqPE4

Enjoy!

Many thanks Huw - your support is as ever greatly appreciated.

If you are interested in knowing more about EducAid's work with vulnerable young Sierra Leoneans, please go to www.educaid.org.uk and www.educaidsierraleone.blogspot.com

International Womens Day 2012

The girls who live in Maronka's safe house are the women of the future and you have been supporting them to make the most of their potential whilst keeping them safe, mentally, emotionally and physically! We want to thank you...........here are some of their stories

Mahawa came to us as she was due to be married off to a much older man, when Mahawa came she could not or would not speak to anyone, the abuse she had suffered made her untrusting and vulnerable. Now Mahwa has blossomed into a thoughtful and cheerful young woman, organising the younger girls in the house, passing her strength finder course and being a positive role model to all. She speaks really good English too, especially when no-one is listening nearby.

Isata is the Girls Safe House Co-ordinator and she has first hand experience of EducAid to share with the girls having started herself in the Women's Project after missing years of education. After a few months Isata was promoted to the mainstream school and, although it was hard when she lost her father, she was able to sit her WASSCE exams and has achieved the grades necessary to attend university. Isata is now looking forward to attending university to study International Development, for now, she is enjoying working with EducAid in the Girls’ Safe House supporting young girls to become strong and independent women. Isata is one of the most strong and inspirational women I have ever met and she is a positive role model for the girls. Isata has a keen interest in human rights and talks with the girls about, gender issues, FGM, women's rights and how to become positive women in their own right.

Bintah was left to bring herself up at 2 when her mother was sent to prison. She has clearly been seriously neglected for the best part of her little life. She had a heart-breaking habit of throwing herself into the arms of all visitors, seeking a bit of love and attention but she never spoke a word. She speaks now, though, and will stand and sing a song or tell a story in front of her classmates. One of the best moments for me was when I was reading on the verandah and Bintah sat next to me and said "what is that Ann?"  and I was able to tell her all about another strong woman from Port Loko.

Mariama was kitchen skivvy to a family in Freetown; a difficult little miss who did the opposite of everything she was asked to do and got herself a regular beating as a result. Taken to Maronka to start school, at long last, she is now a delightful girl responding to love far better than she ever did to violence. She is nearly always top of her class. She is also very assertive and one day she refused to collect water from the well ( the girls have a washing rota along with many other rotas in the house to keep things running smoothly) as she said she had already done it that day......when I spoke to her and explained that the other girl on the rota was busy doing something else and that we all have days when we have to cover for others to work as part of our team. She agreed to go and get the water. When she came back I thanked her and she replied "your welcome " with a big smile. It made me smile to myself.......you know that feeling when you have connected in a special way with someone.

Aunty K dreams of being a teacher, one day. Teachers are her heroes. They have saved her from a life of kitchen drudgery and now they are teaching her to read, write and play. Aunty Kay is one of the most thoughtful and kind girls I have ever met. She often shares her food with the new girls and she has been known to cut the smallest piece of fruit or fish into slivers to make sure everyone gets a taste. Amazing what a little kindness can bring to the house.

Recently I was looking through all the many photos I have taken and all the positive memories I have to cherish since we started the girls house in October 2011 and I have used some of the stories you will be familiar with in the blog, adding some updates as I have witnessed them. I feel so blessed to have been part of such an amazing positive project and to be part of supporting the positive changes in the girls confidence, self belief and learning. Without our supporters, volunteers and the brilliant EducAid team and community in Maronka none of these achievements would have been possible.


When I think about how delighted the girls were to get their new dresses, knickers, flip-flops, toiletries, how competitive the girls were towards the end of the week long sports events in mid term, the hurdles we have overcome in terms of teaching the girls not to hit each other; the delight I feel when I hear the girls saying " Ann says no beating", the washing, the teeth brushing, the assemblies, the plays, the seaside trips, the learning, watching dvd's, reading stories, playing balance ball, the dancing, the achievements, the kindness and sharing, the friendships, the simplest of things................ I feel truly happy to have been part of such a great team. Believe you me the challenges are still there daily only for today I want to concentrate on the positive.

EducAid has been encouraging women of the future for some time now. 


EducAid introduced the Womens Project in 2007 to encourage girls of any educational standard to return to school. Many girls do not have the opportunity to attend school as they are expected to stay at home and do domestic chores, then get married and have babies. Many of the girls who come to EducAid for the first time are way below the academic level for their age as they have missed so many years of schooling. Since 2007 the Women's Project has supported over 250 girls to attend the mainstream school. 


The girls Power Group continues to work with girls in the mainstream school to achieve their full potential; covering issues such as gender laws, equality and human rights.

In the most recent Social Institutions Gender Index (SIGI), published in 2009, Sierra Leone was judged to be the third worst country in the world in which to be a woman; ranking just above Afghanistan and Sudan, and below Iraq and Yemen.


SIGI estimates that nearly half of all girls in Sierra Leone aged between 15 and 19 are married, divorced or widowed. Furthermore, SIGI reports that the physical integrity of women is not sufficiently protected. Between 80 and 90 percent of women have undergone Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and domestic violence is largely unpunished.

Its time for change worldwide and small small steps make big big change........keep supporting our girls and girls worldwide.


If you want to know more about our work, get involved or you know of someone else who would like to volunteer or support our work, get in touch annbeatty@educaid.org.uk

If you ever do any online shopping, or even if you think you don't (because you might in the process find it is cheap and easy to do so) please do sign up.  We will be most appreciative and you will definitely be making a difference to our work in Sierra Leone.

                     http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/educaidsierraleone

If you are interested in knowing more about EducAid's work with vulnerable young people, please go to 

http://www.educaid.org.uk/ and http://www.educaidsierrleone.blogspot.com

You can keep up with the currrent news and activities at the EducAid Face Book website:

     FB page: http://www.facebook.com/groups/48572325218/

Sharing Strengths & Positivity from Maronka

Thank you to everyone who has signed up for the easyfundraising online shopping, see the link below for more details and thank you also to everyone who has shown an interest in and or signed up for the bike ride.

I had a pizza and a beer with my friend Sam in Golders Green the other evening and it cost just under £20.............it really brought home to me the fact that it costs so little to keep 2 girls safe mentally, emotionally and physically in the house for a month. Please do keep supporting us and spreading the word about EducAids work it really has made a huge difference to many young girls lives.

I have been keeping in touch with Isata, Miriam, Jane, Diana and the girls to see what they have been up to..........

Congratulations to Christiana, Mariatu, Miriam, Mary, Mahwa and Fatmata (left to right pictured with Isata in front) All the girls passed our Strength Finder course attending every week for 6 weeks and doing some outstanding work on discovering their strengths and finding ways to make the most of their strengths now and in the future.

Jane has now returned to the UK after 3 months volunteering in Maronka and the weather has turned slightly warmer for her return, although she did tell me she had the fire on straight away! Jane will be dearly missed by all the girls and her friends in the village. Thank you Jane for all your enthusiasm and hard work and we hope to see you back in Maronka one day very soon.

Isata, Jane and Diana have been enjoying working with the adults in the village and family literacy classes are still going from strength to strength with the adults performing at the school assembly, to much applause from the children. Its so inspiring to work with such a positive community. Life long learning in action!


Finally, I am pleased to report that the outbreak of head lice is under control and that the scabies that we thought were scabies were in fact the children trying to tattoo themselves with plant resin.....phew phew phew and phew.

Until next time sending lots of love, strength and positivity from Maronka and the UK x

If you ever do any online shopping, or even if you think you don't (because you might in the process find it is cheap and easy to do so) please do sign up.  We will be most appreciative and you will definitely be making a difference to our work in Sierra Leone.

                     http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/educaidsierraleone

If you are interested in knowing more about EducAid's work with vulnerable young people, please go to 

http://www.educaid.org.uk/ and http://www.educaidsierrleone.blogspot.com

You can keep up with the currrent news and activities at the EducAid Face Book website:

     FB page: http://www.facebook.com/groups/48572325218/

Just in case you need a reminder...........

So far I have 2 friends signed up for this, come on get your wheels on......... it will be great fun I promise, a chance to get fit and raise funds for a truly great cause at the same time

 

Sponsored Bicycle Ride from

Hoek van Holland to Brussels via Amsterdam outskirts

30^th August to 2^nd September 2012

Proceeds to benefit Educaid, Sierra Leone 

The trip will start with all cyclists catching the 20.00 train from London, Liverpool Street station to Harwich on Thursday 30^th August and boarding the overnight ferry which departs at 23.15. The ferry will arrive in Hoek van Holland at 07.45. Bikes will be unloaded and cycling will start along the coastal route towards Haarlem and then south towards Gouda (80 - 85miles).

On the second day cyclists will ride along picturesque canal paths catching a glimpse of Dutch countryside and sampling delicious food. The second day (75 miles) will end close to Antwerp. The final day will be a short cycle ride (50 miles) into Brussels ending with a celebratory meal before boarding the 17.59 Eurostar arriving in London at 19.03.

A support vehicle will accompany the cyclists throughout the ride as well as a catering vehicle which will carry supplies to sustain cyclists. A ‘Bike Mechanic’ will cycle with the group to support any cyclists requiring maintenance for their bikes. All bikes will be transported to Holland in a van which will be loaded on Wednesday evening in London and will return with the bikes to London after the ride. Bikes can be collected on Monday morning.

In order to raise funds for the project we are asking participants to raise a minimum of £1,000 each in sponsorship and to cover their own costs of £300 per person which will include Eurostar tickets, ferry ticket and cabin, two overnight stays as well as food during the ride.   A limited number of places will be available for full-time students who will be asked to fund 3/4 of their costs and to raise a minimum of £500 in sponsorship. 

With only 50 spaces available don’t miss out on this great opportunity to have lots of fun while supporting EducAid!!! Send your application form and deposit of £200, (cheques payable to ‘EducAid bike ride’) to the address below to reserve your place.

We will arrange for sponsorship donations to be made on-line through www.justgiving.com. Sponsorship forms with gift aid facilities will be available too. 

For further information contact Janet Broadhurst on 07956 423 223 or janetbroadhurst@aol.com or in writing to 37 Connaught Gardens London N10 3LD www.educaid.org.uk

If you ever do any online shopping, or even if you think you don't (because you might in the process find it is cheap and easy to do so) please do sign up.  We will be most appreciative and you will definitely be making a difference to our work in Sierra Leone.

                     http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/educaidsierraleone

If you are interested in knowing more about EducAid's work with vulnerable young people, please go to 

http://www.educaid.org.uk/ and http://www.educaidsierrleone.blogspot.com

You can keep up with the currrent news and activities at the EducAid Face Book website:

     FB page: http://www.facebook.com/groups/48572325218/

Back in the UK and missing my Maronka girls

I am back in the UK now and I am adjusting from 40 degrees to - 4 degrees very very slowly...........I am really enjoying spending time with family & friends and I am keeping in touch with Maronka. Isata and the girls called me last night, it was so lovely to speak to the girls, Mary, Aminata, Christiana, Miriam, Josephine, Sia and Laura and we were giggling together so I feel happier today now.

Here is our latest update........

We now have 44 girls in the safe house and on my last day we took some of the girls out to the market and went for a special lunch of omelette & chips, it was a lovely relaxing afternoon treat, we are all patiently waiting for our drinks....

and guess who I found eating her rice as soon as we got back, FA in true Sierra Leonian style; if you haven't had your rice you haven't eaten, she had just eaten her lunch, fizzy pop and an icelet and she still had room for rice and she is so tiny.

Diana is back in Maronka to volunteer for 3 months, welcome back Diana and we all hope you enjoy your stay with us.

There are many challenges in Maronka during the dry season such as frequent bush fires and the well running dry. The well has been redug and drinking water is now back on, thanks to this man who was lowered on a rope down the well by his companions and then hauled back up again, not a job for the faint hearted I can tell you. Its amazing how much we take for granted in the western world. Every year the farmers burn the land to prepare for planting and this has caused much concern in Maronka as one fire was not attended to properly and it burnt down the mango plantation,  Obai and the community have been working around the village to ensure we stay safe from fire.

Daily clubs after school ; Art & jewellery making, music, current affairs, human rights and drama, they are all very well attended and if they continued into the evening none of the day students would go home at all.

 Art & jewellery making club, jewellery making is very popular with the boys......

Despite the bush fires and temporary lack of water Jane is still with us and has been working hard with ABJ and the Kingfishers class. Jane has introduced Maronka to Chinese New Year and been running the music club with Aminatta. I miss hearing Jane and the girls singing Fambanaye which is a South African song in the language of the Shona, I looked for it on Youtube last night and I could not find a recording quite as good as Jane and our girls.......Jane has so many good ideas, she may have to come back again, we hope she will. Here is Jane doing some reading and phonics work with some of the younger ones.......

The family literacy classes are going from strength to strength in the village, they love role play and learning as much as they can in every lesson, its amazing how quickly everyone is progressing and the commitment they have all shown to learning is tremendous.

The Girls Strength finder project is in its 5th week now and Diana will be starting another group off this week, the girls in the first group have really engaged with the course and are progressing well.

We have had our final trip to the beach this month and much fun was had by all, all the children have now been to the seaside and they are writing about their experience in class.



Now to the biggest event of the year.............please do sign up for this very worthwhile and enjoyable fundraising event

Hoek van Holland to Brussels via Amsterdam outskirts

30^th August to 2^nd September 2012

Proceeds to benefit Educaid, Sierra Leone 

The trip will start with all cyclists catching the 20.00 train from London, Liverpool Street station to Harwich on Thursday 30^th August and boarding the overnight ferry which departs at 23.15. The ferry will arrive in Hoek van Holland at 07.45. Bikes will be unloaded and cycling will start along the coastal route towards Haarlem and then south towards Gouda (80 - 85miles).

On the second day cyclists will ride along picturesque canal paths catching a glimpse of Dutch countryside and sampling delicious food. The second day (75 miles) will end close to Antwerp. The final day will be a short cycle ride (50 miles) into Brussels ending with a celebratory meal before boarding the 17.59 Eurostar arriving in London at 19.03.

A support vehicle will accompany the cyclists throughout the ride as well as a catering vehicle which will carry supplies to sustain cyclists. A ‘Bike Mechanic’ will cycle with the group to support any cyclists requiring maintenance for their bikes. All bikes will be transported to Holland in a van which will be loaded on Wednesday evening in London and will return with the bikes to London after the ride. Bikes can be collected on Monday morning.

In order to raise funds for the project we are asking participants to raise a minimum of £1,000 each in sponsorship and to cover their own costs of £300 per person which will include Eurostar tickets, ferry ticket and cabin, two overnight stays as well as food during the ride.   A limited number of places will be available for full-time students who will be asked to fund 3/4 of their costs and to raise a minimum of £500 in sponsorship. 

With only 50 spaces available don’t miss out on this great opportunity to have lots of fun while supporting EducAid!!! Send your application form and deposit of £200, (cheques payable to ‘EducAid bike ride’) to the address below to reserve your place.

We will arrange for sponsorship donations to be made on-line through www.justgiving.com. Sponsorship forms with gift aid facilities will be available too. 

For further information contact Janet Broadhurst on 07956 423 223 or janetbroadhurst@aol.com or in writing to 37 Connaught Gardens London N10 3LD www.educaid.org.uk

If you ever do any online shopping, or even if you think you don't (because you might in the process find it is cheap and easy to do so) please do sign up.  We will be most appreciative and you will definitely be making a difference to our work in Sierra Leone.

http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/educaidsierraleone

If you are interested in knowing more about EducAid's work with vulnerable young people, please go to http://www.educaid.org.uk/ and http://www.educaidsierrleone.blogspot.com/

You can keep up with the currrent news and activities at the EducAid Face Book website:

     FB page: http://www.facebook.com/groups/48572325218/