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We are Jemma (8 years old), a pupil at Inverness Crown Primary School (starting P5 in August) and Anna (4 years old) from Crown School Nursery. We take Chinese lessons at SHIMCA (Scottish Highlands & Islands and Moray Chinese Association) with our lovely teacher Angela Mackenzie (lovingly known as Wang Laoshi). We worship God at Culduthel Christian Centre (Church at CCC) with our parents.

Update:

Jemma completed her first challenge by climbing the highest mountain in the UK – Ben Nevis (1345 m), on Monday 2nd August 2021 ahead of schedule. The weather was good and they decided to go for it. She left home with her dad at about noon and arrived home just before midnight. A very knackered girl. She never got the two-scoop ice cream treat after the climb on the day because all the shops were closed. However, she did get her rewards the following day from Cup & Cone. Very generous portions :-D

On Saturday that week, she also managed to busk on the high street in Inverness for about 20 minutes in between rain showers. She had been practising hard in summer holiday. It was her first time and she was very anxious about it. But she overcame the fear and went out and did it. She was disappointed by the weather that she didn't even get to finish her song list so she's planning to do it again in September (date tbc). If you missed her on Saturday, you can watch some of it on her new YouTube channel. There's a selection of folk songs, contemporary pieces as well as her composition.

Anna also completed her cycle down the Caledonian Canal towpath from Inverness Leisure Centre to Dochgarroch and back (just over 7 miles) on Tuesday 3rd Aug, also ahead of schedule. She had been on a balance bike for a very long time and only at the beginning of June, she discovered the magic of pedals and was thrilled to be able to cycle 'properly' ever since. She cycled to CCC Church, UHI Campus and around the Ness Islands many times for practice. A seven-mile trip along the Caledonian Canal was be a big step forward for her wee legs. Her effort was rewarded at the end of the cycle with a yummy Smartie pop-up from the Botanic Garden :-D

We did these challenges to raise money for the Talita Kum project, Blythswood and a Chinese orphan named Su Gan Er Zuo from Sichuan Province.

We learned from Mrs Wang about Su Gan Er Zuo, a 13-year-old Chinese orphan from a remote mountainous area of Sichuan province in the south of China and would be unable to access schooling were it not for the efforts of the local charity Sichuan Azalea Charity Foundation, which works to offer children like her the potentially life-changing basics of learning to read and write. She belongs to the Yi minority group in one of the poorest areas of the country.

Su Gan Er Zuo lost her dad when she was just one. Tragically, her mum died when she was eight. She stays in school during the week and at her aunt's house on weekends. Supporting her education for one year costs just the equivalent of around £120. You can find out more about our class's fundraising efforts in Inverness Courier here

We also want to support the Talita Kum project which supports young people and their education. When the schools close at midday, many young people have to fend for themselves. Talita Kum provides a six hour programme, five days a week for 40 children and young people from some of the most vulnerable households in Jimbolia, Romania. The young people receive help with their homework, preparation for exams, and to encourage them to finish their education. They receive clothing and showers, as well as nourishing meals. Most of these young people and children come from families who often don't appreciate the value of education. At Talita Kum, they are helped and encouraged to pursue schoolwork and therefore greatly enhance their life prospects. You can find more info about it at this webpage here

Thank you so much for your support and generosity. God bless you!