Work gets under way on pitch Kind pupils lend a hand in Tanzania
The installation of a new 11- a-side grass football pitch is under way in Fauldhouse.
The £100k investment will see the development of the underused blaise pitch adjacent to St John’s Primary School which will satisfy demand from local primary schools and the community.
The gra s s p i t c h development is in addition to the recent provision of a full-size 3G synthetic surface pitch behind Fauldhouse Partnership Centre and plans are also in place for the Eastfield Road Park blaise pitch to be upgraded to a full size grass pitch.
The provision of new or upgraded pitches within Fauldhouse will significantly improve the sporting estate within the town and provide more and higher quality facilities for local football clubs and organisations.
Executive councillor for culture and leisure Dave King, commented: “The upgrading of the St John’s blaise to a re-seeded grass pitch and the forthcoming development of the Eastfield Park blaise will provide additional highquality assets for the local community and schools.”
Big- hearted pupils f rom Wh i t b u r n Academy have spent two weeks helping to build homes for vulnerable families in Tanzania.
Students Cameron Wilson, Cameron Betts, Chloe Harris, Amanda Henderson, Lucy Higgins and Robert JewellSmith along with teacher Clare Rhind were taking part in a construction project through the Vine Trust.
They travelled with fellow pupils from Jedburgh Grammar, arriving at Mount Kilimanjaro Airport on June 20. For the next 12 days the students were based in Moshi and worked on two sites building homes for vunerable families.
Teacher Claire Rhind said: “It was hard work digging foundations, carrying stones, sand bricks and water to the ‘ fundi’ ( builders). We worked with local volunteers, villagers and members of the families and for the first few days the paths were very muddy making our job harder.
“By the twelth day both houses had taken shape but will not be completed for another couple of months.”
In addition to the contruction work the pupils visited local schools and orphanages where they enjoyed playing games, singing and dancing and organising activities.
Ms Rhind continued: “We each took an additional suitcase with us which we filled with toys, clothes, books educational materials and toiletries which had been donated by teachers and staff from Whitburn Academy. Some of these donations were given to the orphanages and we also provided the families with gifts for their new homes.
“The pupils started getting the hang of some Swahili words, learned songs and enthusiatically embraced the Tanzanian culture and for the last two days of the trip we went on safari in the Taragyire National Park and the Ngorongora Crater.”
She added: “It took two years to raise funds for this trip, which could not have taken place without the support of the Whitburn community who generously donated raffle prizes, sponsored students and supported our fundraising activities.”
S t u d e nt A ma n d a Henderson said she thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
“The Tanzania trip was a great success, as not only did I have an amazing experience but I also got the opportunity to change a family’s life for the better.
“Being able to donate a couple of suitcases to each orphanage we visited was such a privilege.
“I would highly recommend this experience to anyone who gets the opportunity to do it as it is so rewarding and will give you a whole new perspective on the way people live.”