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8730 Mt. Rushmore
Drive |
Foundation The Blair Atholl Schools Internet
Fund These kids were born and are being raised in
three of the worst shanty town slums on earth—Joe Slovo, Gamalatjie
and Thabo Mbeki—in terrible squalor. Sleeping 6, 7, or 8 to a one
room hovel of a shack, one of thousands crammed insufferably close
to each other. Kids living in these "informal settlements" often
have a teenage mother, no father, no water, no electricity, no sewers,
no sanitation, no heating or A/C (temperatures exceed 100 F (34
C) in summer, and fall below freezing in winter), no security, no
police, no privacy and no dignity.
Yet these 580 kids - 100 pre schoolers (age 3 - 7) and 480 junior schoolers - have hope, and a chance. They are students at the Blair Atholl schools, funded in large part from the interest on an endowment from the Gary Player Foundation. The junior school is now in its 23rd year, and the pre school is 17 years old. Principal Niki Everett has been with Blair Atholl schools for 17 years, as have most of her staff, a tribute to the spirit engendered in her team of educators. Three are even former pupils. Principal Niki and her team teach their pupils the rudiments of education, as well as English, music, art and computer skills. The two schools have 24 computers (for 580 pupils!). Yet they cannot access the internet. Why? The school cannot afford the access charges. Their budget is restricted to spending just the interest from the endowment, not the principle. Says Principal Niki, "It is hugely, hugely challenging to raise funds for education in this country. Imagine the impact of the power of the internet on these receptive young minds. The chance for kids to see that there are alternatives to the sordid cycle of drugs, alcohol, sex and violence that is their life at home would be invaluable, truly life changing". In addition to the educational curriculum, the teaching staff provide a full program of weekend activities to further enable the kids to avoid the enormous negatives of weekends at home. It is probably too late to help this generation of adults. But its not too late to help 580 kids of the next generation. Please help us bring the internet to them. Help us help principal Nicki and her dedicated staff use the power of the internet to re-enforce their powerful message. These two schools give 580 children options to escape their birthright of desperate poverty, deprivation and despair. Thanks to Blair Atholl schools, they are being taught that there are alternatives to their perilous plight.
The Foundation visits Blair Atholl Schools
l -f. Principal Niki Everitt, Carl Horton, Regina Morrow, and Brendan Lillis Here are some simple ways to help 1) Donate here. Pledge for a three year term if you are able. 100% of donations goes to Blair Atholl Schools.
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