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Teas & More - Open Gardens 2010

Once again, this popular annual Marlow was a great success. In addition to teas and delicious cakes, there was a craft stall, homemade lemonade, games, tombola, an auction and lots more!  

Shaftesbury stands up for Children at Risk!

On Saturday 22nd May children from schools, churches and other organisations in Shaftesbury, Dorset, joined together to call for the UN Millennium Development Goals to be reached and to raise their voices for children at risk around the world.

Over 250 people came together in the beautiful sunshine to walk through the high street, accompanied by the fire brigade and the Mayor and Deputy mayor of Shaftesbury. After some singing and an inspiring talk by Bright Tomorrows trustee Sue Jackson, we released balloons into the sky as a symbol of our commitment to children. A fantastic day - well done to all those who joined with us!

Bright Tomorrows T- shirts now available!

Thanks to Just Engines, we now have t - shirts to buy for £12 in Ladies sizes S M L or Mens S M L XL. To get yours please send a cheque to us (with £1.50 p&p) to the address below, or via Just Giving where you can specify your size online.

Zimbabwe - April 2010

It was a privilege to return to Zimbabwe and see the positive impact that Bright Tomorrows' supporters are making through our work there. Children in Mukoto enjoyed their first ever holiday club and it was fantastic to see that some of the children we met in September are looking healthier and happy. They still face many difficulties and uncertainties in their lives, particularly as so many have lost parents to Aids, but many more are now able to go to school and to look towards a brighter future.

We talked to some of the older children about their everyday lives and about their dreams, which ranged from becoming a dressmaker, to a teacher, driver, nurse and doctor. Through your support, we are enabling these children to take steps towards making these dreams a reality...

We are also starting a new project in Mondoro, where there are many orphans. This community has also been affected by recent drought, which has meant that maize crops are barely yielding a harvest this season. We are looking to implement a community based programme that will support women in the villages in providing better care for the orphans. Some as young as 20 are having to bring up 4 children on their own. Jeannie will train them in psycho- social support and develop children's groups and youth clubs. There are also plans to enable families to grow new, more resistant crops which will allow them to provide enough for the children and also sell some, thus providing an income. To do this we need your help..

The cost of providing seed and training for a family is just £80. In the second year, the family will provide half the cost of seed themselves and in the third year, they will be able to be self sufficient. This sustainable programme enables them to ensure the children are fed and pay the fees for schooling themselves.

Could you give a family the start they need to support themselves? If so, get in touch with us and start making a difference today!

Haiti Visit January 2010

The trip to Haiti was led by Flor White, who has close and long term connections with the country, having lived and worked there for some time. Two local nurses who were moved by the plight of so many injured in the terrible disaster, funded their trip in order to support larger medical teams working in the capital. In the days following the disaster, we were able to obtain a generator to enable doctors to carry on treating patients. Antibiotics are also very much in need and the team sourced 1,000 courses which they took to help victims.

February Message from Flor:

First of all I want to thank you  everyone who helped in this trip to Haiti, we did make a difference in that place!

I was there for almost two weeks it was a honour and an oportunity to see first hand the situation of the people of Haiti at this moment. Many times I felt helpless at the great need these people are facing and many times I felt honoured to be there and realize that with all the help and donations we took from England we were making a difference!

At the moment the tradegy is still very fresh over there, the sadness in peoples eyes and hoplessness was overwhelming. At the same time the birth of three babies in the place we were working was a sign of hope, that told me that among the devastation life carries on.

So, now what? I ask you all not to forget about these people, the need still huge and we can still bring light and hope to many. It does  not finish here, this is the begining of something very special, so thank you again for being a part of this.

So far, through your giving, Bright Tomorrows has been able to fund:

Vital medical supplies ( bandages, antibiotics and other medication)

Food aid for over 500 families and children

Baby milk, clothes and other necessary supplies

60 + tents for families now living on the street

Ongoing care for 3 children at a local orphanage

It is estimated that reconstruction work will not be able to commence in the city for another few months. The immediate priority is relief and food aid for the surviving children and families. UNICEF are working hard to reunite children who have been separated from their parents. Where this is not possible, the next step is to try to connect them with survivors within their extended family. When these avenues have proven unsuccessful, the children may be able to be placed in a local orphanage (if places can be found/funding obtained). UNICEF will keep them on the register in case a surviving family member is discovered in the future. The children have suffered a great deal of trauma and uncertainty in recent weeks and it is in the children's best interests to stay within their familiar context wherever possible.

March 2010

Plans are still going ahead to take a team of people who having building skills back to Port Au Prince in the Autumn. The school attached to the orphanage where we are supporting children has been demolished by the earthquake and urgently needs rebuilding to allow the children to carry on with their studies. More details will follow, but if you are interested to find out more, please do contact us.

Teas & More - Open Gardens 2010

This popular annual event will be taking place in Marlow on July 17th/18th so put the date in your diaries now.. In addition to teas and delicious cakes, there is a craft stall, homemade lemonade, games, tombola, an auction and lots more!  

Zimbabwe - September 2009

                                                                   Two boys collect ants for their meal that day..

In Zimbabwe, up to 1 in 4 children are orphan by the horror of AIDS, causing the death of many working aged parents. Bright Tomorrows has been using your money to effect the lives of thesechildren, through sponsorship of Psycho-Social care, provision of education and food aid.

The rural areas are hit the hardest with children from the city being left with distant relatives, known as Grandmothers, for the very basics of care. Even though in some regions the cost of education is just $5 US per term, children have no means of income to meet this cost. Even those that do, go with as little as 1 meal per day and then find school impossible to engage with due to malnutrition.

At Bright Tomorrows we work directly with people on the ground that are on the front line of care. This means every penny that you donate goes directly to those in need, with all admin costs met by the trustees.

Bangalore

A team from Bright Tomorrows went to Bangalore in South India to see the school and present them with the money raised by Francis White's parachute jump.

The school has been running for seven years. It has rapidly grown to the present day with more than 200 children. The classrooms are very small and bare with the children sitting on small plastic chairs or benches. The have no desks, but balance their books on a board on their knees. The school is inspected regularly by the government and is well regarded. They do well in local area competitions and enjoy activities such as games and dancing as well as formal subjects. The children learn computers from a text book and the school has one computer with no printer which would have been condemned and thrown away years ago here!

While we were there the school did a special presentation and we used that opportunity to present the school with our gift of a 6mtr parachute and 2 dozen balls. We also gave them a range of equipment and materials. Earlier in the day Sarah presented the cheque from Francis' parachute jump which almost paid off the loan for the school building extension. The children attend the school and sleep in a classroom on mats on the floor. They are exceptionally happy children and we really enjoyed playing with them and sharing their lives.

Child Sponsorship Scheme: For as little as £5 per month you can provide the school fees for one Tsunami orphan living at Bangalore. Email us for a Standing Order form today.