Mamelodi Trust

You will be aware of the continuing support given by Naace Members to Zakhele Primary School and Meetse A Bophelo Primary School in Mamelodi, South Africa. These schools serve a deprived area of one of the former black townships and the majority of the children live in the squatter camps that surround the schools in desperately disadvantaged social conditions not found in the UK. Over 90% of the people in the local community are unemployed and most of the children are dependent upon the schools' feeding programmes for their only meal of the day.

Apart from extensive poverty, HIV/Aids is a huge problem in the community and the schools run Aids awareness and support programmes.

In recent years, with support from Naace Members and Sponsoring Partners, BESA and many private individuals, we have been able to provide, for the first time, books, learning resources, ICT facilities, and support which is making a real difference for the learners in these schools.

The focus for the Trust's work in the last year has been to build a library at Meetse A Bophelo School. This school has 2,500 pupils and some Naace members will recall meeting the Headteacher at the 2005 Naace Conference. Previously this school had tried to set up a small library in a tin shack - but it let in the rain and became unbearably hot in the summer and so was entirely unsuitable as a library. The rest of the school buildings are made from old cargo containers! With support from Naace, the Trust has now built a library and fitted it out with shelves and tables - all that is needed now is books to go on the new shelves!

The immediate need therefore is funds to enable the school to buy books. The Trust is collaborating with one of the largest educational booksellers in South Africa - every pound raised in the UK is increased by them by 12% to provide a book fund for Meetse A Bophelo School.

At this year's Annual Strategic Conference, a raffle will again be raising money for the children in Meetse A Bophelo School. Every penny raised goes direct to the school via a special holding account at the booksellers in Pretoria who act as our 'banker' and who provide the school with advice and help with their purchasing.

Thank you for all your support over the years, and thanks in advance for your generous support again this year. Please buy a ticket - it really will make a difference!

You can find out more about the Mamelodi Trust at: www.mameloditrust.org.uk