My parents have been involved with the Oxford based charity, EDSA, for as long as I can remember.  I've never really had much to do with it until a few years ago when I visited Barrydale township where EDSA had helped facilitate Net vir Pret, a small not for profit organisation running since 2004.  It really hit home what a difference is being made within this small rural township community by this organisation and how important the funding and other support from EDSA is to them on an ongoing basis.

Over the years EDSA has fundraised to buy a small township building as a headquarters for Net vir Pret and a base for the important "children's care" programme. There are now five staff and four tutors and several volunteers plus five young interns per year and a local young leaders scheme based at the Net vir Pret Children and Youth Centre.  All are given work experience and leadership skills to support their work with the children.  EDSA has supported Net vir Pret to raise funds for a vehicle and a small mini bus to allow the staff to do outreach work and to take youngsters out of their limited rural environment.

Recently the Centre has been extended from being single storey with just two rooms - to a beautiful two-storey space giving the children and young people in the community access to a wide creative programme including craft work, art, pottery, music (both jazz and djembe), sports, indigenous riel dance, theatre work and puppetry as well as literacy and numeracy programmes and a cycle project.

The centre is a place for the children and young people to go to after school and at all holiday times. Net vir Pret offers them opportunities they do not get at home; including access to toys and books and to new skills; it promotes self-esteem and self-confidence; it helps keep them safe, and away from drugs and alcohol, which are a problem in this small township. 

The staff also outreach to isolated Farm schools of between 40 and 80 children, some of which the children walk 3-5 km to get to. Net vir Pret staff offer creative lessons from music and dance to craft work - something many farm-schools just can't offer. 

I am hoping to raise £1,000  - all of which will go towards the important work of Net vir Pret supported by EDSA. I am personally paying for all of my own expenses to get to South Africa and to participate in the bike ride - you won't be paying for me    :)