Press Release 11th January 2011

Carlisle Overseas Aid Trust Grant

Keswick and District Fair Trade Campaign has welcomed the news that Carlisle Overseas Aid Trust has made a grant of £250 toward the cost of science books for Bulbuloo School in Choche, Ethiopia. The school, one of two elementary schools frequently visited by members of the Campaign on their visits to Choche, has a serious shortage of science resources, both books and equipment.

On their most recent visit, John Howell of Keswick Rotary, Joe and Jill Human and Patricia Howell of the Fair Trade Campaign were asked if it would be possible to raise £1000 for books.

On return Patricia Howell approached Carlisle Overseas Aid Trust with the request. Although at the moment the Trust is short of funds, it has been able to make £250 available.

‘Though short of what we wanted, we are nevertheless delighted by this amount,’ said Patricia Howell. ‘But we must now look for ways to raise the rest. Already we have had pledges of money, including two Winter Fuel Payments! But we need more to make up the full £1000.’

‘When you visit Ethiopian schools,’ said Joe Human, ‘you are struck by two things: first the sheer numbers of children packed into them – class sizes can be up to 100 – and second, the dire shortage of resources: often 4 children share a single a text book. In some extreme cases I have even seen the subject teacher having the only text book in the class.’

If anyone would be interested in contributing to make up the amount requested, they are asked to contact Patricia Howell on 017687 73801.