Page 51 - link magazine

swindonlink.com • September 2010 51
Marking two decades

of links with Nicaragua
Swindon Ocotal Link (SOL) celebrated twenty years of friendship
between Swindon and its twin town Ocotal in Nicaragua with a visit
from Dr Jorge Calderon.
It’s summer. Brighten up your home
with a rainbow of colours!

Charisma Blinds - the place for quality and value

Suppliers of all types of blinds and awnings
Full fitting service or cash and carry
Factory showroom open Monday to Thursday 9.30am - 5.30pm
Friday 9.30am - 5pm, Saturday 10am - 4pm
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Kitchen MaKeOver

are your kitchen cabinets OK but the door and drawer
fronts are looking a little tired?
Why not consider replacing them. With a new worktop to match,
Twentieth anniversary party in July with the Mayor and Mayoress and, front from you could achieve the look of a new stylish kitchen, saving you time,
left, Gill Wallis, Karen Mayell, Ruth Ogle. Back, coun Doreen Dart, Dr Jorge Calde- money and a lot of upheaval.
ron, Sian Kandiah, Bruce Clarke, Dr Ayub Kandiah, Dorothy Clarke, Rita Heads
• Complete made to measure
Dr Calderon presented Swindon direction nearly every year and kitchens and bedrooms also
mayor Rex Barnett with a letter from SOL works closely with an Ocotal available.
Ocotal mayor Carlos Norori, who committee to help families in need • Many superb styles and finishes
visited the town in 2007, to mark buy school uniforms and shoes, to choose from.
the mutual respect and support. and provide sponsorship for young Ring now for an appointment
There have been visits in both people through secondary school tel: Peter Galbraith on
and university.
SOL also funds a health clinic 01793 741234
Somaliland asylum and helps an old people’s home www.petergalbraith.co.uk
with supplementary food and
seekers help homeland medicines.
Asylum seekers from Somaliland Dr Calderon, who has been
living in Swindon have assisted involved since the town twinning
others in UK raise £80,000 to build agreement in 1990 and is president
a school in their home country. of Fundacion SOL, said “the link
Spurred on, the Swindon Somalil- between our towns is built on deep
and Foundation(SSF) now works to friendship and respect for each
raise funds for education, health and other. It has been incredible for all UNITS 19-20 KENDRICK INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
water development. the people in Ocotal, helping par- SWINDON WILTS SN2 2DU
Chairman ticularly with health and education.
Hassan Nur, I’m proud it has now lasted 20 years TEL: 01793 536784
right, who was and I thank the people of Swindon
an asylum for all your support.”
seeker and The link was greatly strength- SANSUM SAND & GRAVEL SUPPLY TO ThE
now lives in ened in 1998 when Hurricane Mitch
Park North, ripped through through the central GENERAL PUbLIC AND TRADE CUSTOMERS
said, “after a American country. Swindon resi-
bitter civil war dents raised £27,500 and members bRICKS,
Republic of of SOL went to Ocotal to help with
Somaliland reconstruction. CONCRETE bLOCKS,
separated from the Republic of Bruce Clarke, chairman of SOL, CELCON bLOCKS,
Somalia in 1991. Most of the 150 said raising money for Ocotal is
Somaliland people in Swindon are more vital than ever. “Over the bLOCK PAVING,
asylum seekers from the earlier years there have been a lot of ex-
conflict with the Somalia dictator changes, including groups of young PATIO SLAbS, SAND,
government. people on work experience. GRAVEL, TOP SOIL, bARK,
“Despite their difficulties they “But our priority is to raise a lot
raised funds for the Salahley Mid- more than the £5,000 currently sent CANTAbURY SPAR,
ddle School, which has 350 students to Ocotal, to support more families
between the ages of 6 to 11. Many and children in need, helping a LANDSCAPE FAbRIC,
of the children are orphans from larger number of children attend DRAINAGE ChANNELS,
conflict or come from poor rural college and also assist more health
families.” and community projects.” bUILDING ChEMICALS,
See the full story with pictures of For details of how to help
the school at www.swindonlink.com Swindon Ocotal Link call Bruce ROCK SALT AND CEMENT
For more information or to help on 533338 or mail: swindonocotal.
please contact Hassan Nur on [email protected] www.sansums.co.uk
488795. www.swindonocotal-link.org.uk

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