Girls help to improve lives in Tanzania
STUDENTS at Northwood College for Girls have been given the unique opportunity to change lives and futures by collaborating with the Better Lives Foundation.
Better Lives’ key objective is to create support structures designed to better both the health and the education of those living in developing countries.
The girls’ challenge was to ‘travel’ from Northwood College in Maxwell Road to a small village in Tanzania called Kiwitwi – a total of 7,208km!
Students set about running, climbing, throwing and swimming this huge distance and their outstanding dedication and commitment has resulted in them raising more than £5,200.
Year 6 pupil Asiyah Merali Dewji said: “We held fundraising clubs every day at either 7.45am, lunch time or after school, and it did take a lot of commitment to sacrifice our precious sleep - but it’s the least we could do for those who are in need.”
Last week, Gill Perry (pictured with PE teacher, Miss Perry and Northwood College pupils), a representative of Better Lives visited Northwood College to tell the girls about the huge difference their money will be making to the villagers in Tanzania.
Ms Perry said more than 1,700 students from three different schools will be benefitting from an advanced water supply with improvements being established, such as: wells, pumps, distribution pipes and taps.
These developments will help to supply essential health improvement facilities, such as, hand wash basins and toilets; and ultimately contribute towards the improvement of the student’s education and futures by reducing the spread of germs and illnesses.
The school’s donation will also go towards setting up a School Farm, where crops will be grown to provide fresh and healthy breakfast for the students.
She said it was one of the girls proudest achievements, as the sustainability of the farm means their efforts will remain beneficial to the students for years to come.
PE Teacher, Ms Rebecca Perry, said: “Covering the 7,208km was a huge challenge for the girls, but it has been a prime example of what our students can achieve with sheer determination and hard work.
“The way the girls have worked together to bring the best out of each other is inspirational.”
The presentation ended with the girls discussing what their contribution towards the charity meant to them, and when asked to sum up their experience in four words they mutually agreed on: “Commitment, Motivation, Resilience and Teamwork”.