Charlie’s Ghana gap year to aid young IT students
18-year-old will be wiring computers in tropical heat for poverty charity
It will transform access to technology and information for teenagers in Lawra, who currently study IT without access to any computers
WHILE friends are relaxing and partying, one Hungerford teenager will spend his gap year wiring computers in tropical heat for charity.
Charlie Haw has been supporting Action Through Enterprise (ATE) since he was eight years old, having organised a sale of fresh figs.
He was inspired by a talk given by founder Sarah Gardner from Ramsbury.
Now 18, he is preparing to travel to Lawra in rural Ghana, where ATE works to alleviate poverty.
Ms Gardner said: “Charlie is an extraordinary young man, who instead of clubbing in Thailand for his gap year, will be wiring computers in 35 degree heat.
“He’s travelling to Lawra to set up a community IT suite with computers donated by video game giants SEGA.
“It will transform access to technology and information for teenagers in Lawra, who currently study IT without access to any computers.”
She added: “Charlie was at
my first ever talk in 2013 and has been fundraising for us ever since.
“We’re so excited that he’s now adventuring to Ghana to see our work in action.”
On his blog Charlie said: “I’ve always wanted to see the impact of this charity in person and I am so grateful to finally be able to do that.
“I have my vaccinations booked for next week, and the following weeks after that – time for an achy arm!
“After that I am preparing my equipment I will need for the trip, as well as a full suitcase full of rations.
“My only initial worry for the trip is my peanut allergy, as peanuts are a staple crop in Lawra, but if I am super careful and come with these rations I have no doubt it will go perfectly.”
The link is here: https:// www.justgiving.com/fundraising/charlie-haw
The ATE charity website can be seen at https://ateghana.org/
“I have set up my JustGiving page that will go directly into funding this project; if you would like to donate or share this to others it would be a huge help to me and the charity,” Charlie added.