Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education

St Cuthbert's Way Walk

Going the distance... changing lives....

Helen and Jill are asking for your help to build a future for children in Sri Lanka and South Africa.  

 

They are walking the St Cuthberts way, 62 miles from Melrose to Lindisfarne and would like you to sponsor them as they raise money for work among children and young people in South Africa and Sri Lanka.

The walk will take place from Thursday 20th May 2010 to Tuesday 25th May 2010. The money raised will be split between the Itekeng Project in the Diocese of the Free State and Smile Lanka.

Itekeng Orphan and Vulnerable Children Centre is situated in the township of Meqheleng on the outskirts of Ladybrand.  The centre caters for disabled children, children who are orphaned by HIV and AIDS and other children who are vulnerable for whatever reason.  Many of the children are looked after by siblings or aging relatives because of the death of parents of AIDS.  Some of them are the main carers in their families.  Most of the children have no birth papers and so they can’t access mainstream education.  The centre caters for over one hundred children some of whom stay at the centre permanently.  The accommodation block is one small room housing children of mixed ages and genders.  There are two small classrooms with little equipment where the children are educated and the centre has three outside toilets.  The staff at the centre often go without pay and often provide the food for the children form their own homes.  Small amounts of money will go a long way to make life better for the children and staff of Itekeng, please help.

Smile Lanka is a school for the very poorest children in Hambanota Sri Lanka. It was established after the devastating impact of the Tsunami in 2004 as a place where children would be fed, educated and loved.
The primary aim of Smile Lanka is to boost the children’s self esteem and confidence so that they dare to hope for a brighter future. Smile Lanka provides the children who attend with at least one good meal a day, preschool nursery in the morning and lessons for 5 – 14 year olds in the afternoons.
The staff of the school pray that they enable children in their care to break free from the poverty cycle and experience life in all its fullness. Smile Lanka is a Christian charity and the majority of income is through child sponsorship. This project is in desperate need of a new classroom and resources. A little money can go along way to making a massive difference to the lives of these beautiful children.

To sponsor Helen and Jill please go to http://www.bdeducation.org.uk/shop/sponsor-us/sponsor-jill-and-helen-on-their-walk-along-st-cuthbert-s-way-from-melrose-to-lindisfarne-bdbespon.html