Audley supports Burma school project
Following our initial fundraising efforts for the victims of cyclone Nargis, it has always been our intention to source a project that Audley could directly support that would provide long-term gain for a community.
Whilst it has proved considerably more difficult than we had initially thought to find a suitable project (our first attempt unfortunately fell through to another donor), we are now moving ahead at a pace with the rebuilding of a primary school at Paya Ngoto (North) Village.
It is situated a short distance from the town of Twante, which is reached either by road or a two-hour ferry journey from Rangoon. Paya Ngoto is a small village and the community is extremely poor. The school was virtually destroyed by the cyclone and the 55 pupils aged between five and eight are currently being taught in a temporary bamboo building. We hope to increase student capacity to nearly 70 children. Rebuilding the school will take between three and four months.
We have sourced this project with the help of our local agent in Burma who will now oversee the rebuilding of the school in conjunction with a school committee. By using their resources we can be sure that the funds we raise will go to those who need it most: local contractors, a local workforce and above all the children and families of a local community.
We need to raise £8,000 to rebuild the main schoolhouse and adjacent toilet block. A local contractor has already started work rebuilding the main schoolhouse and the children are so excited to see their new school taking shape.
If we are able to exceed our initial target of £8,000 we can build a more robust pathway which leads from the main road to the school. We would also like to provide new furniture for the school, playground facilities and a supply of stationery for all of the students.
Ultimately we want to forge a long term relationship with this small village in Burma. The proximity of the school to Rangoon will enable our Burma specialists and clients to visit it on future trips and take stationery supplies with them. Our group tour to Burma in November 2009 will include a visit in the itinerary.
