Thank you for taking the time to visit my ‘Just Giving’  Art fundraising page. The rest of the paintings with details can be found on this link  http://www.kodakgallery.co.uk/ShareLanding.action?c=318hx8h1.xsf82dpt&x=0&y=-uur8jz&localeid=en_GB Details of how to donate can be found in the 'how to buy/donate' section at the end of this page. Donations without purchase of paintings are more than welcome. 

I am hoping your generous support will enable me to volunteer Accountancy skills to Educaid for the month of November 2010.  

Through  Accounting for International Development(AFID), a social enterprise who do great work placing Accountants with NGOs in order to build Financial Management Capacity and long term sustainability of small community based organizations across Africa and Asia, I am embarking on an assignment with EducAid a UK based charity that provides the only free secondary school education in Sierra-Leone.

As a Sierra-Leonean, I have seen my Country ravaged by 11 years of civil war, political instability, social unrest and poverty, leaving it with the lowest  life expectancy rate, adult literacy and combined primary and secondary education in the world. Since the war, progress in rehabilitating the economy and building up basic health and education services has been  slow. I strongly believe that education is a means towards  elevating poverty and empowering people to help themselves.

EducAid started in 2000 and now has  4 schools with over a 1,400 students with a fifth school due to be open in November 2010. In addition to education, they provide meals for all students and boarding for half of the students.   When I learnt about EducAid, I was touched by the amazing work that the trustees have done and their continued commitment to promoting education among the under privileged  and those affected by the war. EducAid takes a holistic approach and believe that education should encompass all areas of development including  academically, socially,  morally, creatively, physically and emotionally. Their approach has meant that the students have among the highest public exam pass rates in the country.

I will be volunteering in EducAid’s accounts department, providing training  in Finance. To meet the basic costs, I am fund raising through this “CharityArt Sale” of my original Acrylic paintings.  Why art??  you may ask. Well, 2 months ago I toyed with the idea of fundraising marathon and went for a run, 10 minutes into it I took a ‘break’ to admire the graffiti along the Parkland walk and remembered I did GCSE art during my Secondary school education. Painting was something I had enjoyed doing at the time and find it to be a unique form of creative communication and self expression.  What seemed like the easy option two months has turned out to be the most challenging thing I have ever done.

However, my challenge can only be completed through the sale of the paintings and any voluntary contributions.  Half of the funds raised will go towards the CIMA studies of young Educaid Accountant Mohammed Sannoh, who is hoping to start his professional accountancy studies and the remaining half will go towards my travel and board.

 Nine of the paintings are displayed on this web page, the remainder can be found at 

The paintings are dedicated to my Godchildren Jeremiah and Sinkarie and named after my Nieces and Nephews.Each painting has a minimum recommended price based on its artistic value and size. You are welcome to buy at the suggested price or make a higher contribution.

At this point, I would like to thank friends and family that have kept me going and a special shout out to Michelle at Cass Art who gave me crash courses when I went in to buy art supplies.  

How to buy painting or just give a donation?

Go the this link http://www.kodakgallery.co.uk/ShareLanding.action?c=318hx8h1.xsf82dpt&x=1&y=9blktu&localeid=en_GB If you would like to purchase a painting, email the name of the painting to josephinedauda@hotmail.com   and make your donation on this just giving website. Postage prices are not included in the pricing of the paintings so please add £5 to your donation if you do not live in London. There are duplicate copies of some paintings, the site will be regularly updated once a painting is sold.

If you are making a donation towards a painting then please do not tick the gift aid box as this is considered a sale by HRMC

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.

So please dig deep and donate now.