Young fundraisers celebrated after they raised £10,000 in nine months to build a new school in Sierra Leone.

Students at Falcons School for Boys, an independent school with sites in Richmond and Chiswick, raised the cash for the new school in one of the world’s poorest countries.

After learning about the deteriorating condition of Sierra Leone’s schools, many of which are built out of corrugated iron and less solid materials often destroyed by storms, pupils set themselves the target of raising £8,000, a figure that would finance a brand new Nyeyama Village School.

The school hosted an array of fundraisers including a sponsored Thames path walk, an art exhibition and a half marathon - run by Year 6 parent Emma Hawkins who raised £500 - and smashed its £8,000 target to reach £10,089.

The school’s headteacher Gordon Milne jetted out to the small African village of Nyeyama to officially open the Falcons School Nyeyama, named in tribute to the school in the UK.

He said: “We would like to congratulate all the boys, staff, parents and friends who have supported this fantastic fundraising effort.

“I was taken aback by the incredible community spirit in Nyeyama and received the warmest of welcomes which I will never forget.”

The much needed extra funds will go towards fitting the newly built school with all its essential equipment for learning.

On his return from his African adventure, Mr Milne said: “It was a truly moving experience to see the money raised by the boys, and the entire school community, being put to such wonderful use.

“The pupils at Nyeyama are extremely ambitious and their desire to learn was incredibly inspiring.”

 

MORE RICHMOND AND TWICKENHAM NEWS