Cast your mind back to your school days. Small red plastic chairs, dried pva glue on your fingers, reading time, school trips, apple crumble ... and education.
For all the criticisms we have of the British education system, there is no doubt that it is one that allows children to progress and excel, whatever their background, in any field imaginable.
We have teachers, books, equipment, electricity, water, food, buildings, playgrounds ... in our determination to become the best, we often forget that we have a lot we should be thankful for, but aren't.
Most children in the world struggle to complete a basic education due to poverty, a failing system, war, culture...
Many such children live in Pakistan. There, the idealic scene from our youth is just that - an ideal only to be dreamt about.
Some facts to illustrate why. In Pakistan:
- 71% of government schools have no electricity
- 50% have no drinking water or toilets
- 24% do not have textbooks
- 46% do not have desks
...
The Citizens Foundation is a charity started 14 years ago to address this problem.
The Foundation has set up 600 schools teaching 80,000 under-privileged children. The schools are built in deprived areas: urban slums and poor rural villages where the need is most dire and where most children would otherwise not receive an education.
Since two-thirds of women in Pakistan are illiterate, one of TCF's most important aims is to enrol girls. They have achieved a 50:50 gender balance by recruiting female-only teachers. True, it would not pass employment laws, but it is encourgaing parents to send their girls to school.
The schools are scrupulously clean, light and airy with toilets, running water, well-equipped science laboratories, computer rooms, libraries, art rooms and playgrounds. With their courtyards and verandas, they are an amazing oasis amidst the urban slums and rural villages in which they are sited.
Students come from poor families, fees are means-tested and since families are poor, about 85% of costs come from donations.
Donations I hope to receive from you.
Money, I hope, that you will gladly give to try to help some of these children have a better future.
If all the above was not reason enough for you to part with your dosh in these hard times, I will be climbing mount Kilimanjaro in October to help you reach that decision.
One fact about the mountain:
- Its 5,896m high and takes about 7 days to climb up.
One fact about me:
- I can just about manage 20 minutes on the hiking machine at my gym ...
Oh, and apparently 40% of climbers fail to get to the top due to altitude sickness. Those who know me well also know why I have to sit in the front of the car... my experience makes up for my susceptibility...
I am also very determined, disciplined and - this is beginning to sound like my CV - am confident that I can reach the top... with your help of course...
Please give generously. No amount is too small (or large). I will be giving too - from pocket, mind, body and soul.
You only got's to give of your money :)
All offers of bribery, and requests for favours and odd-jobs are considered.
Thank you!
NB ALL the money you donate will go straight to the charity. I am covering the costs of the trek personally.
