We are a group of teenagers who meet at St. Andrew’s Parish Church, Biggleswade. In July 2015 we will be travelling to Mpumalanga, South Africa with the charity ‘Hands at Work in Africa’, a charity that work in 8 African countries to care for those suffering with poverty, AIDS/HIV and orphaned children affected by these issues.
Currently in the African continent, it is estimated that there are over 53 million orphans, a number that is almost incomprehensible. Whilst as a group we are able to have very little impact upon this, we hope to help the charity and those affected in any way possible. In South Africa, the AIDS/HIV crisis is estimated to have affected around 5.7 million people, the highest number of any country internationally. With a high mortality rate, there are many orphans who do not have their basic needs fulfilled, most importantly sanitation and healthcare, food, and education.
Whilst in South Africa, we are aiming to go out into the community and give support to those most in need, also assisting long term volunteers already at work in some of South Africa's most desperate situations. We may also support building projects whilst we are there, including sanitation facilities and feeding stations. Our donations, and any others, will assist in these projects and the charity's other work which is having a vital impact on many lives.
We have a goal of £10,000 to cover costs of a group of 11 people; this includes the aforementioned sizeable donation to the charity. We have already received support from our diocese, school and many members of the public and have continued fundraising successfully with countless activities and events. We would love for you to support us, the problem in Africa is too big to comprehend and every small piece of help will be gratefully received by us, the charity and those we aim to help.
As a group, we at 'The Room' have been meeting for over three and a half years. When we travel to South Africa, there will be six teenagers aged between 17-18 and five adults we have met in various ways; some have experience of working with 'Hands at Work in Africa' and others who have mentored 'The Room' in our time meeting together.
We are a Christian youth group who have gone through several courses together to build our faiths, to strengthen our educations and beliefs, and to bond as a group. This has helped greatly in our work towards travelling to South Africa and we are a strong group of friends as well as an efficient team. In the last two years of planning the trip we have organised and led many activities including sponsored events like a 24 hour cycle ride; skydive; and even worked with a baking business. We've also presented to many churches throughout the diocese and at other events for the public.
Through this blog we hope to keep you up to date and informed with our progress and experiences in the lead up to our project, and also our work whilst we are in South Africa. Prayers and support are continually appreciated and we are thankful of all of the support we have received so far, without which our trip would never have been possible. For more information do not hesitate to comment on our blog, talk to one of us directly, or contact our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/RoominAfrica
Thanks - The Room
