Big-hearted schoolkids put the 'fun' into fund-raising in aid of deprived children - The Rugby Observer

Big-hearted schoolkids put the 'fun' into fund-raising in aid of deprived children

Rugby Editorial 27th May, 2022   0

BIG-hearted kids at a Rugby primary school put the ‘fun’ into fund-raising to help a Rugby-based charity care for and feed children in one of the world’s least-developed countries.

Year 4 children at The Crescent School have raised over £1,110 for the Bwengu Projects Malawi charity, which retired Rugby couple Sue and Tony Melia set up in 2005 after they witnessed the terrible conditions at a Malawi school where they were teaching voluntarily.

Tony and Sue Melia set up The Bwengu Project after they witnessed the terrible conditions at a Malawi school where they were teaching voluntarily.

The school was one of the Bwengu Projects Malawi’s first supporters back in 2007 when it donated books for use in school libraries – one of the charity’s earliest projects.

Each year, Year 4 children at the school study Africa, Malawi and the work of the charity, and organise fund-raising activities for the whole school to participate in.




This year, the charity asked them to support a whole project – the completion of a Nursery and Orphan Feeding Centre in Mleghu in the most northern part of Malawi.

Having set themselves a target of £685 which would allow the building to be completed, the children outdid themselves by raising a massive £1,110 through a number of activities including a sponsored silence, guessing games and a non-uniform day.


Pupils Maggie Johnson and James Mercer presented a cheque to Sue and Tony’s daughter Samantha Melia from the charity.

Samantha said: “This is really wonderful. There are so many different people in need across the world and we are so grateful that every year pupils at the Crescent help unlock the opportunity of education for the children of Malawi.”

The school’s Deputy Head Bryony Forth said: “The children worked incredibly hard this year organising lots of events. They have smashed their fundraising target.

“They enjoy studying Bwengu and comparing ‘A Village Less Economically Developed than Rugby’. Studying the challenges the people in Malawi face helps the children to appreciate the similarities and differences in our societies.

“As well as completing the building, the money will also now provide for furniture and toys for the nursery and cooking pots, bowls and a supply of food.

“Supporting the Bwengu Project is always a highlight of my teaching year, something which I personally am very proud to be part of. Over the years, we must have raised over £12,000 and helped pay for renovating schools, building a Women’s Development Centre, sewing machines, a teacher’s salary and nearly 60,000 meals for orphans.”

Subscribe

Receive a weekly update to your inbox by signing up to our weekly newsletter.

Online Editions

Catch up on your local news by reading our e-editions on the Rugby Observer.

Reader Travel

Check out all of the latest reader travel offers to get your hands on some free gifts.

Buy Photos

Buy photos online from the Rugby Observer newspaper.