Story
OLIVE'S STORY...
My Name is Olive Garrett, I am 12 years old now.
I have been hearing about Africa and the people in Malawi that my Granda has been helping all my life. I decided I wanted to do something to help the children of Peacehaven Primary School in Ntakataka.
So I set up OPERATION OLIVE, thinking of ways to raise funds for them as I wanted to get them a playground. We have so much fun at our playground's here I want the children to have that at Ntakataka too!
Firstly I decided to do THE BIG BIN WALK pushing my Blue Wheelie Bin from Newtownards to Comber, which I have now completed and enjoyed every minute off. I am so thankful to everyone who got behind me and my vision to raise funds for the playground. Ive been working in the Vision Ministries Charity shop , doing street collections in Newtownards and a few other things to help raise money.
I have recently arrived home after my first ever trip to Malawi, I just loved every minute. Meeting all the children and seeing for myself what their life is like as its very hard for people there. There is lot's of things I would like to get for them. Vision Int Ministries are planning on getting a pre nursery started at Peacehaven in the near future.
If you know me you will know I adore babies and young children, so I just want to do my bit to maybe get maybe a few ride on bikes, kitchen or something like that now too. These children don't have toys to play with at home or anywhere like we do so I'd just love them to have these things for some time whilst at Peacehaven Children's Centre.
While we were in Malawi I also took part in a sponsored cycle event that was 500km's. My Mum and Granda were doing the bike ride from Mzuzu to Senga Bay, so I figured I needed in on this as another way to help out. I managed to cycle approx 30km each day with them over 5 days. The roads are very bad with lots of potholes etc sometimes there isnt even a road, and in the heat it was hard work. They had to cycle in the dark and some unsafe places, so for safety reasons I would go along in the support car ensuring they had plenty of water and the odd energy bar to keep them going.
The people in Malawi are so friendly and were excited to see us crazies cycling past, we were kept company all day with children waving, running with us and shouting out always laughing clapping us on! Along our journey we have seen only a few good roads but mainly ones with potholes and gravel roads that sometimes went on forever!
VIM has been raising much needed funds & helping people in Africa for 30 years. Reg Charity number N106627.
VIM have approx 150 children enrolled in Peace Haven School which they raised funds and built for the community.
They also have a school for the older students, called Olive Grace Academy with appox 125 students. My Granda started working in Africa 30 years ago. He has a special place in his heart for Malawi and works everyday to do his best to raise funds to help the people there.
He is going to be here in Malawi until the end of September to oversea repair works etc, as this is our 30th year working in Africa we want to mark it creating as much awareness as possible.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story, and thank you for any donations you may make or even a wee share of my page to help me raise awareness for OPERATION OLIVE.
Love Olive xx
Proverbs 29;18 - Where there is no vision the people perish