Page 62 - Phonebox Magazine August 2007

Advantage Africa –
a new charity based in Olney
Andrew and Jane Betts are founders of the charity Advantage Africa. They moved to Olney in August 2006 and the charity relocated its office to the Market Square earlier this year. Andrew explains what the charity does, what it means to be based in the town and their latest fundraising initiative.
What does Advantage Africa do?
Advantage Africa supports the ideas and work of inspirational people in Africa to overcome poverty and disadvantage. We don’t impose our own projects but work in genuine partnership with local communities in East Africa to ensure their ownership and sustainability. Right now we are supporting ten groups in Kenya and Uganda to undertake education, health, social care and skills- training initiatives.
What’s different about the charity?
Our focus on supporting inspirational people. Throughout my work across Africa I have seen how poverty really can be defeated when people with passion, integrity and respect are involved in the fight against it. And we aim to reach the most disadvantaged people of all - those who are poor but also stigmatised and denied opportunities because of disability or HIV and AIDS. For example, only 2% of disabled children go to school in developing countries - which is why we’re helping to establish special units for disabled children in Kenyan primary schools.
What does it mean to be based in Olney?
A great deal! Olney has a proud history of involvement in social justice issues. Cowper championed the cause of lacemakers kept in poverty by poor wages and unhealthy conditions and John Newton mentored William Wilberforce and hastened the end of the slave trade; I frequently hear his hymn ‘Amazing Grace’ sung in African churches – it speaks to the soul. Olney’s links with Africa continue today through the Olney Newton Link’s awareness-raising about Sierra Leone and support to projects there; I’m delighted to have recently joined their board of trustees. It’s also significant that our MP Mark Lancaster is now the Shadow Minister for the Department for International Development and I’m looking forward to discussing issues facing Africa with him.
How can people support Advantage Africa’s work?
We rely on public donations and one of our latest fundraising initiatives is a raffle. It came about when the Home from Home day nursery in East Street offered us a superb HD widescreen TV as a
prize. Visualise
Photography, Ice
Twice Gallery, the Bull
and others followed
with more prizes and
now we need to sell
5,000 tickets to reach
our £5,000 target.
All funds raised will go
towards establishing
urgently needed
nursery schools in
Obambo, Kenya and
Bombo, Uganda.
Many of the children
who will attend the
nurseries each
morning are orphans
who have few
opportunities to learn
and play. Living in
poverty that we can
only imagine, their
parents and carers will
have sufficient time to
earn a living or farm
the land to feed their
families – paramount
to their very survival. So please support the raffle by buying as many tickets as you can; at the time of writing they are available from Cox and Robinsons Chemist, Reva Hair, Wine Rack, Courtyard Brasserie, Stephen Oakley, Van Weenens, Jets, Words Bookshop, Derby House and Rees Millers. And if you are able to sell them among your family, friends and colleagues please call in to collect a bundle from our office at 26A Market Place, Olney (above Taylors Estate Agents).
As a parent, it means everything to me to know my children are in safe hands, learning and having fun while I am at work. The nursery school raffle is a chance to ensure that children in Obambo and Bombo have the same chance in life – and give their parents and carers an opportunity to work their way out of poverty. K
The nursery school in Bombo has collapsed since this photo was taken last year; funds raised from the raffle will go towards replacing it.
The new nursery school in Obambo will replace this dilapidated hut with no floor or equipment which is used by 60 children despite being condemned by the local authority.
Newton Blossomville School
In June the children of Newton Blossomville School celebrated the school’s 125 year anniversary as a National School. They dressed in Victorian costume and began the week with a Victorian lesson, sitting in rows in the original building, writing on slate boards, and learning about the life of a Victorian school child. At the end of the week children, parents, staff and villagers dressed in Victorian costume and enjoyed a delicious Street Party Victorian Lunch. Everyone enjoyed home-made Victoria sponge, shortbread, strawberries and many other wonderful choices of food, all available in Victorian times.
The weather was very good and following the party, children and adults joined in Victorian Playground games such as ‘In and Out the Dusty Bluebells’, ‘Oranges and Lemons’ etc.
Stewart Ross, children’s author, visited us, and children were treated to hair-raising stories of his time as a boy in the 1950s at Newton Blossomville School.
Biddenham 10k River Run,
5k Run and Sponsored Walk Sunday
30th September 2007
at 10.45am
Start – Biddenham Pavilion, Deep Spinney, Biddenham
Entry by ringing 01234 823637 or online www.runnersworld.co.uk
Sue Ryder Biddenham Support Group
Proceeds in aid of Sue Ryder Care, St John’s Hospice, Moggerhanger
62 Phonebox Magazine