<p>Hi Everyone!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Thanks for dropping by my page. This June (2011) I am going to Morocco with Oxford Development Abroad (<a href="http://www.odauk.org">www.odauk.org</a>) in order to help to build a new school in a Berber village near Ouarazazate in the Atlas Mountains. ODA is a registered charity run by students and organises annual projects to Morocco, Nepal and Uganda that focus on community-lead initiatives in which student volunteers&nbsp;assist a local NGO to meet the demands of the local people.&nbsp;This year we will be working with the Near East Foundation in Morocco as labourers to physically build the school.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>In a country with a literacy rate of 50% we are trying to bring education to those rural dwellers who are most in need&nbsp;because they simply&nbsp;do not have access to basic schooling facilities. Once the school is built an entire village's population will benefit and children who had previously had no hope beyond the walls of their familiy's&nbsp;house will be empowered to live and interact with modern Moroccan society as much as they wish. A month's worth of our work will equal&nbsp;a lifetime of benefit for the next generation. At a time when the Arab World is defiantly standing up to the autocratic rulers and puppet kings&nbsp;that have miserably failed to invest in lives of their people I feel that education is more important than ever. Basic literacy skills are the least we expect from public education in the UK, why shouldn't the Moroccan people expect the same?</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Every penny that is raised from you will go directly towards covering the cost of materials and paying local labourers. Personal travel expenses, living costs etc are my own responsibility and are not included within the fundraising aim. This is not an excuse for&nbsp;a cheap holiday.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving &ndash; they&rsquo;ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they&rsquo;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&rsquo;s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>So please dig deep and donate now.THANK YOU,</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Roland</p>