TSUNAMI APPEAL (archived page)
SPECIAL FUND RAISING TO REBUILD SCHOOLS IN SRI LANKA
UPDATE, June 2005
After the tsunami struck in SE Asia, Room to Read launched a special appeal to help communities rebuild schools. We have already raised over £600,000 and have completed our first three schools in the Ampara district. Our work in Sri Lanka will extend beyond tsunami hit areas to make education accessible for a great many more children in Sri Lanka.
We’d like to take this opportunity to extend our special thanks to Mike for his generosity of time and effort in responding so quickly after the Sri Lanka appeal and putting together three amazing Moroccan Holiday packages for Room to Read United Kingdom to use.
Like many I have been feeling I should at least be trying to do something following the Tsunami disaster. John Wood (who I met at the Kasbah last year), founder of the charity Room to Read, wrote to tell me about their special fund-raising to help rebuild schools in Sri Lanka that had been destroyed or damaged in the Tsunami. I thought that surely we too could collectively do something. It looks as if for once, thankfully, the World’s response to this disaster will be more appropriate than at other times. Hopefully soon the immediate needs of the survivors will be met.
John’s Charity Room to Read “World Change Starts with Educated Children” looks to the longer term. I thought we should try to do our best to support this important charity. Room to Read have already put in place matching funding (up to the first $100,000) from a pool of anonymous donors so any donations you give will be doubled.
As part of our overall fund raising efforts we have managed to put together several spectacular holidays - our thanks to our friends in the Marrakech hotel industry. These holidays are going to be raffled off at two special fund raising events organised by Room to Read in London on January 31st (Holiday A) and in Birmingham on February 2nd (Holidays B&C). John Wood, Founder of Room to Read, will speak on their long term vision and an overview of the plans in place to assist the rebuilding of the school infrastructure in Sri Lanka following the recent tragic events. We will let you know how much Room to Read raise at these events. There are a few places left at these fund raising functions so if anyone is interested in attending please contact me. We will let you know how much Room to Read raise at this event.
As we all know, the important thing is to raise as much money as possible to rebuild the schools in Sri Lanka and every donation counts. Please go to Room to Read to make your donation.
Schools and Colleges: Room to Read has a special section for Students to help Students. This seems a very appropriate charity for schools and colleges to support. I hope many of the schools we know will consider supporting this appeal.
Please pass this on to anyone who you think might be interested.
Thank you for your support.
Wishing you well for 2005.
Mike McHugo and all at Kasbah du Toubkal and Discover Ltd.