Hello everyone! This fundraiser has been a long time coming but unfortunately life just got in the way. However, seen as it is the blessed month of Ramadan, I thought it would be the perfect time to start it! As some of you may be aware, last year I travelled to one of the poorest region of Ghana to tackle poverty in education. For 3 months I taught in a school that had next to nothing. Hardly any structure, hardly any resources and hardly any teachers. However I was moved to tears by the determination of the students to learn, despite the awful conditions they were forced to learn in. I suddenly felt so guilty for all those Sunday evenings I spent complaining about having to go to my warm, comfortable and fully resourced school the next morning. To put things into perspective for you, I was teaching 25 year olds in Year 11 because they couldn’t afford to sit the exams to progress; exams that cost the equivalent of just £1. The whole experience was so eye opening and it made me realise just how much we take for granted. The fact that we have a world of knowledge at our fingertips is truly a blessing.

While I was out there, my parents, my family and friends and Challney High School for Girls sent a huge amount of school resources for the school. I and the school were completely overwhelmed by the generosity shown by my loved ones and the beautiful community spirit of my former high school. So that little school that had no books, no sports equipment and no science equipment now has all of that. And for that, I and the students in Ghana are very grateful.

However this is where I need your help! Approximately 300 books were donated to the school but the children are not able to use the books until a working library system is put into place. Currently the schools ‘library’ is just a dusty, empty room with a handful of dictionaries piled on the floor in one corner. The aim is to get the room painted, build bookshelves and buy desks and more books so that it is a bright and welcoming space for the children! The money will be sent to the headmaster of the school and she will be keeping me posted on the status of the project.

Any amount of donation, big or small, will be greatly appreciated. I know how much getting a library means to the children, and I am so excited to see their little faces light up when it is complete, In Sha Allah. Also if anyone has any creative ideas for the theme of the library, let me know! Finally please remember that a man’s true wealth is the good he does in this world.

Thank you for reading this and Ramadan Mubarak!