A Promise To Africa

Celebrating 30 years of the Cheddar Valley education system

On Thursday 28 September 2006, the Headteachers of the twelve Cheddar Valley Schools launched their 'A Promise to Africa' fundraising event to celebrate thirty years of the three-tier education system within the Valley. This was done working alongside national charity Link Community Development and was co-ordinated by Gemma Mullick, Deputy Head Girl at The Kings of Wessex School.

The Headteachers agreed to commemorate the successful collaboration of Cheddar Valley schooling via this symbolic campaign to raise money to benefit children of Africa. Since the start of the campaign, over £18,000 has been raised, with £3,000 coming from a Mufti Day held at the end of the Spring term 2009.

The money raised has gone towards the building of a two classroom block at the Bwelyale Public Primary School in the Masindi District in Uganda. Before the project, there were 153 pupils at the school, with just 3 trained teachers. The old classrooms were mud huts with grass roofs (see left hand photo below.) Now, the school has 3 classrooms, an office and a store, and each classroom has desks and chairs (see right hand photo below.) The school now has over 777 pupils.

There is still much to be done, the nearest clean water is 1 kilometre away, and there are only 4 toliets for 777 pupils. Can we keep our 'Promise to Africa' by raising funds for a water supply and more toilets? Yes we can! The Cheddar Valley Schools 'A Promise to Africa' continues...