It really is truly amazing how much we take books and education for granted. Most people say they hated school, but really what would we have done without it? We don't realised how lucky we are... and what's even more interesting - is the knock on effect of furniture and how it plays such a vital role within our day to day lives.
I have just been working on some of Green-Works Overseas programme, providing office and school furniture to all kinds of people who have a real need. We have been working a lot in Sierra Leone's Waterloo region providing this much needed resource which is giving hope to the children of this devastated country.
Can you imagine having to pay for your own furniture to go to school; not only that but your uniform and your books as well - doesn't sound too different from here, except chances are your parents have been murdered or if you're one of the lucky ones, it's going to cost them 3 days work to afford 1 note pad - but you need 13, one for each subject. If you can't afford this chances are you won't be allowed to attend or at best you might be able to find a space on the floor - but oh, mind the puddle!
However, despite all this these kids
LOVE going to school. It gives them hope for the future and all they want to do is learn. Just having some seating, some books and some metal storage to keep them in is making huge differences. The storage means the books are secure and protected from rain and dust and the seating is helping children stay focused by being more comfortable and reducing the amounts of back complaints.
Name: Alie
Age: 14years
School: St. Raphael Junior Secondary School, Waterloo
Receiving all these books has changed my school and it is now rapidly noticed by the way parent are yearning to send their children to the school because of our academical improvement in public exams. My follow students always visit the library almost everyday to read these books.
Some of my colleagues where found of not coming to school, but receiving these books have really cause a change in their attendant. Also our school is producing good debaters, who are said to be always victorious in debating, because the good English languages that these books have cause us to learn. For me, I am really grateful.
If you would like to support the Green-Works overseas efforts you can donante at
www.justgiving.com/green-works/donate or get in touch about organising your our fundraiser, email Rachel Billett on
rachel.billett@green-works.co.uk
