Waterloo Partnership

Waterloo Partnership

The family of Merchant Taylors' Schools has adopted The Waterloo Partnership as one of its prime charities for this academic year.

This worthwhile charity was set up two years ago when people from Waterloo England pledged their support to the people in Waterloo, Sierra Leone following their terrible civil war. Sierra Leone, having been the third richest country in Africa, is now the second- poorest, with the worst medical facilities, anywhere in the world. If you want to know more about, then please ‘Google\' Waterloo Partnership.

Working closely with the team in Sierra Leone ensures that we, in England, offer the support that is needed in Africa. One might suppose that, having no running water or electricity in Waterloo they would ask for our help in providing these life-saving commodities. But no, they have asked instead for a library. This library will be the largest in Africa and will bring people from far and wide to use it which will help the economy in Waterloo.

At Stanfield we have been collecting children\'s clothing, shoes and wellies - yes, the children in Sierra Leone love, and need, wellies when the rainy season descends on them - books, football kits, sheets, bicycles, ladders and gardening and handyman\'s tools amongst other items. These are all being collected and sent, along with donations from other schools, in a container which will arrive in Sierra Leone in time for Christmas.

In addition to this, each class has a 50 litre storage box in which they are collecting stationery items to be sent to parallel classes at Kankalay Islamic Primary School. This was one of the two schools I visited in February. When I tell you that there is no equipment in the schools, I really mean it. The only educational aid that the teachers had in each classroom was a totally inadequate blackboard and white chalk. Some children did not have paper, pencils or pens so just had to listen to the teacher and sit quietly whilst their peers were writing. We hope,

therefore, that by sending these boxes, every child in the school will have at least a pencil and exercise book as well as some other basic, yet essential equipment to aid their learning.

It only costs about £40 sterling per year to sponsor a child, but the Waterloo Partnership will only fund a child if there are sufficient funds to see that child through seven year\'s education.

Should you have any suggestions or questions then please contact me at school either by

calling in or e-mailing me using the form on the contact details page.

This little girl lives on the school playground with her mother. As she is unable to go to school because her mother cannot afford to by her a uniform, she is sent to sit underneath the open window of what would be her classroom so that she can hear what is going on inside.

We have now boxed and bagged up all the donations of clothes, books and gifts for our partners in Waterloo, Sierra Leone. As you will see from the photographs we have had a superb response to our request for goods. Thank you all very much. We know just how eagerly awaited these goods are and how pleased our friends in Sierra Leone will be.

packing boxes

We have filled 34 large storage boxes. 17 of these are from our seventeen classes here in Stanfield and these will be going to Kankaylay Islamic Primary School, one of the two schools Mrs Roberts visited in February.

Sierra Leone boxes

These gifts to the classes will make a difference seeing as they have nothing apart from a very poor quality blackboard and a piece of white chalk. The class boxes also contain letters from our children to the children in Sierra Leone.

The other seventeen boxes contain resources for the staff, children's library books, reference books, exercise books and some games equipment.

The container will be leaving England shortly and is due to arrive in Waterloo, Sierra Leone in time for Christmas.

Some enterprising girls in Year 6 have been very busy this half-term making and selling Stanfield ‘designer' jewellery.

With help from several of their friends they have raised the magnificent total of £103.40 for the Waterloo Partnership. Well done girls!

Katherine and Lizzie, Mrs O'Mahony's daughters who are in the Sixth form, had a cake sale at MTGS the same time as the staff at Stanfield held one. Together we raised £120, also for the Waterloo Partnership.