Seagate engineers in Ghana schoolbuilding mission
Five local Seagate engineers are intent on raising £30,000 to help build a school catering for 200 6-11 year-old pupils in Kukuo Yapalsi, a rural community 30 minutes outside Tamale in northern Ghana.
The brainchild of Ryan Thompson, who has already visited the area, the idea came about during a coffee break at the Buncrana Road plant.
The five, Ryan, Gabriel McCafferty, Niall Lavery, Marie O'Neill and Laura Carlin intend to raise the funds through a litany of fundraising ideas including golf tournaments, company sponsorship, marathons, pub quizzes, local scouting organisations, schools, and believe it or not, a 'Samba Night'!
Speaking to the 'Journal' this week, spokesman for the group, Ryan said: ''I made two trips to Ghana in the last few years and helped in raising funds to improve the water system there.
''Many of my colleagues and friends were involved in fundraising for that and I was very appreciative of their help. Then in November last, I organised a quiz in the Clarendon Bar to raise funds for the organisation, CID Ghana (Co-Operation for Integrated Development), an organisation who are doing sterling work in the area. It turned into a successful night and we managed to raise 700. Incidentally, I'd like to pay tribute to the local firms that supported us in November, namely Smyths Toys, India House, Dananos, Studio Hair and Beauty, Cut Price Media, YMCA, the City of Derry Rugby Club and Millennium Forum.
''After that I got word about how villagers in Kukuo Yapalsi in North Ghana were trying to raise funds to build a school. The local children there have to walk over an hour to get to the nearest school and that means kids as young as 6 years of age spending two hours a day just getting there and back. If we can achieve this, up to 200 local children will benefit. I would appeal to the local Derry public out there that every little helps.''
No guarantee
Ryan also points out there is no guarantee that after walking an hour to school the kids will get in. The group also point out they have a definite agreement that after construction of the school the Ghanaian education board will fully support it and provide teachers ensuring the future of the school in the village and therefore securing the education of the village children.
The Seagate engineer continued: ''We have set a target date of September 2008 to have raised the 30,000 target and would appeal to any local businesses, community organisations, clubs or schools out there in the local community that could help. Any donation or assistance would be greatly appreciated. We have set up a constitution and registered as a charity with the Inland Revenue so that everything is above board and ready to go.''
Ryan can be contacted on ryan@cidghana.org or mobile 077 20847090. Alternatively, anyone wanting to find out information about the appeal can log on to the CID Ghana website at www.CIDGhana.Org.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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