Newsletter: December 2018

Following our recent visit to Arise School in early November, we are delighted to report that 2018 is proving another very successful year for ACE. As a result of last year’s successful Well Appeal and the construction of the well in the early part of this year, an irrigation system has also now been installed.

The school is making very good progress towards becoming self sustaining. It is already self sufficient in spinach/green vegetables and bananas. This means that surplus can be sold locally to bring in income. The small goat herd is increasing rapidly, providing much needed milk for the children. The chickens continue to produce eggs and pigs are being fattened to be sold at market.

The school is on target to begin to sponsor children itself in the local community from January 2019. This will be a real reflection of the community principle that has been an integral part of the underlying philosophy of Arise since its inception. It is “their school, for their children and their community”. Having completed all the capital development of the school that we committed to originally, we will continue to work with them towards it becoming self sustaining. At the same time, throughout their time at Arise, we will also continue to provide ongoing sponsorship for all 80 children who were part of the ACE Sponsorship Scheme prior to the scheme closing earlier this year.

In our last ACE newsletter, we gave you the opportunity to let us have your views about secondary education for the Arise pupils. We asked:

“Should ACE play a role in facilitating secondary education for those children currently sponsored through the ACE Scheme? If so, what sort of secondary education should this be and how will it be funded and administered?”

Thank you to all of you who sent us your views on this. Our ACE Management Committee is still considering the way forward. Whilst it’s fair to say that the majority view is to follow our hearts and give these children the chance to move on to the next stage in their education, our heads are holding us back. It is not straightforward and raises a lot of issues, especially in terms of fundraising, administering and overseeing any scheme both here and in Tanzania for the foreseeable future. The youngest Arise children are only three years old and have a long way to go in terms of even completing their primary education. It is still “work in progress”. When the Management Committee reach a decision, we will write to all of our sponsors to let them know the position.

Once again, our recent ACE Fun Quiz was extremely successful. Thank you to everyone who supported it. We are delighted to say that the final total raised came to an amazing £1,530!

Finally, Christmas is approaching rapidly. If you are still struggling for gift ideas for family and friends, proceeds from this year’s ACE Gift Certificates will go towards Arise School becoming self sustaining. Gift Certificates can be purchased for any amount. (suggested £5 minimum).

To purchase just email us at ACECharity@aol.com. Payment can be made via MyDonate on the charity’s website: ACECharity.uk.

Thank you for supporting ACE for another year and for making it possible for the charity to do so much more for the children at Arise School. On behalf of our ACE Management Committee, Season’s Greetings to you all and very best wishes for the New Year.