Latest News from Waterloo Schools Charity, Waterloo, Sierra Leone, Africa.
Posted January 2023
HAPPY NEW YEAR from the children, teachers and trustees of Waterloo Schools Charity and As we enter 2023 the cost of living crisis is something in the forefront of our minds. The Ukraine-Russian war is having a shocking effect on Africa, which heavily relies on the import of food and oil from the warring parties. There is a food crisis and the supply chains of various commodities ranging from sunflower oil, crude oil to wheat have affected us all but the poor are the worst hit. Sierra Leone is in the top ten poorest countries of the world and is still recovering from the civil war which ended in 2002 and the recent ebola crisis of 2014. These have all combined to worsen the poor medical and educational infrastructure. The cost of a bag of rice has doubled in one year! This is why we are so grateful to our faithful supporters - without your continuing help things would be very much worse. The future of society there depends on education of the children. A very big thank you! We held a fundraising quiz fish & chip supper on 28 October last year. Our quizmaster Neil really tested our grey cells and there was much fun and laughter and a staggering sum of £1,000 raised! |
On 13 December the Zoe Carss Nursery School held an open day for parents when they could see the work the children have done and talk to their teachers. What an important role the nursery school plays in preparing these little ones for their future education. Our thanks go to Christiana and her staff. |
We wish you all good health and happiness in 2023 The Trustees of Waterloo Schools Charity |
Mission Statement Founded in 2005, the Waterloo Schools Charity has done a great deal with your help to achieve its stated aim and vision: To advance the education of children in Waterloo, Sierra Leone, particularly but not exclusively those attending Waterloo Primary School and the Peninsula Secondary School, by the provision of financial assistance, equipment support and such other facilities as the trustees shall from time to time in their absolute discretion determine. |
- Latest News - Autumn 2022 Update - September 2022
- Latest News - Autumn 2021 Update - September 2021
- Urgent Appeal - August 2020
- Latest News - Christmas Wishes 2019 - December 2019
- Make a note in your diary - Invitation to our Summer Concert 7 July - May 2019
- Latest News - Winter 2019 Update - January 2019
- Latest News - Spring 2018 Update - Febuary 2018
- Latest News - Summer Update - August 2017
- Latest News - Spring Update - March 2017
- Latest News - Summer Update - September 2016
- Latest News - Spring Update - May 2016
- Latest News - Winter Update - February 2016
- Quiz & Fish and Chip Supper Fundraising Event Update - April 2016
- Ebola Update - October 2015
- Celebration of Waterloo Schools Charity and Remembrance Service for Laurie Read held at St.Nicholas` Church in Dormston - June 2015
- Charity Day held at King Edward VI Aston School, Birmingham - May 2015
- Many thanks to the Tarantara.org mixed choir - November 2014
- TARANTARA! at St. Andrews Church, Shottery on 11th October - October 2014
- Ebola Crisis - October 2014
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Welcome to Waterloo Schools Charity based in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Africa.
Fifty years ago Laurie Read, founder of the Charity, worked as a teacher in Sierra Leone, Africa before returning to the UK to take up medicine. His love for this little African country never left him. At that time, newly independent Sierra Leone was developing and full of promise for the future.
However, the subsequent years of dictatorship and civil war brought the country to its knees and made it difficult for Laurie to keep in touch. Upon retiring from the NHS in 2005 he and his wife, Sue, made a visit to Sierra Leone to see whether he could work there as a surgeon. It also gave Laurie a chance to visit the Peninsula Secondary School where he had been principal and had taught science so many years earlier. He was horrified by what he found. As a direct result of that visit Waterloo Schools Charity was founded in 2005 and its aim is to co-operate with the people of Waterloo in restoring and developing nursery, primary and secondary school education.
Sadly, Laurie Read passed away in 2014 but his legacy lives on through the efforts of a committed group of trustees, here and in Sierra Leone, and ably led by Sue Read. Thanks also go to our dedicated and hardworking team of fundraisers and all our donors who give so generously.