27/3/2008

Local News

Aid for Rwanda orphans

SPACE HOPPER CADETS: Sandhurst School pupils (from left) Laura Turner, 15, James Crawshaw, 16, Kian Lonergan-Curry, 12, Connor Gardner,12, and Emily Ross, 15, help raise cash for Rwandan orphans with a space hopper race

PUPILS at Sandhurst School are working together to improve the lives of orphans in a remote Rwandan village.
As part of a Citizenship Project, pupils from the school, on Owlsmoor Road, have adopted children who were orphaned during the 1994 Rwandan genocide – and is raising money for them.
The children are also able to communicate with each other through letters and pictures, to see how they are getting on.
The funds were boosted last week when the school held a special Reaching Rwanda Day of Action, raising more than £2,000.
This brings the total that students have raised since the project began last October to more than £5,000.
Samantha Hunt, Assistant Headteacher of Sandhurst School, said: “The project is such a success that the Government’s Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has designated it as an example of excellence in education.”
The highlight of last week’s fundraiser was an evening benefit gig, which saw two student bands rocking the school hall.
Ms Hunt added: “I am travelling out to Rwanda next month to meet the children who have benefited from the fundraising and will be finding out exactly how our money is being spent.
“It will be a joy to share with the Rwandan children letters and videotaped messages from our pupils.

First printed in: Surrey Hants Star