is often in the news for the wrong reasons, with large-scale displacement and suffering in both the south and . It must sometimes seem that there is little hope of improvement. However, in spite of the country’s misfortunes, there are still many brave and committed people who are working for a better future.
Together for is a small charity which supports these people. I am a trustee, together with a number of others who have worked in , or feel a commitment to the country. We focus on providing resources for the education of underprivileged and marginalised women and children: a modest investment in education can transform a girl’s prospects and enable her to be a contributor to development rather than a recipient of occasional handouts.
We are proud to have enabled some 250 young women to graduate in developmentally relevant subjects over the last 10 years, as well as providing shorter periods of training for thousands of others, from illiterate women in displaced camps to AIDS orphans. The programmes are ongoing with the number of successful graduates increasing each year.
You can read more about these programmes on the Together for website www.togetherforsudan.org
Together for has achieved a great deal but, like other charities, we are finding it more difficult to raise money during the current downturn. We would hate to curtail our programmes, so trustees are having to come up with new funding ideas.
One of my contributions will be to take part in the Great Clarendon Marathon in October. This involves running 26 miles cross-country between the two cathedral cities of and . I ran in the London Marathon five years ago so I know what hard work it is – and I am not getting any younger. However I am training hard and believe that with commitment I shall once more be able to cover the distance.
We may be feeling the pinch in but I very much hope that you will still be willing to make a contribution to help people whose lives are so much more of a struggle than ours.
If you would like to sponsor me please contribute below. There is no need to mention the amount. If you can think of any other potential sources of support please let me know. I shall really value any support you can give.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
