Page 12 - link magazine

12 swindonlink.com • February 2012
North Swindon teacher connects with African children

Catherine Wayte teacher Kirsty O’Neil travelled to Burkina Faso in January to spend a week visiting a new school in the village of Doudou,
strengthening links with Swindon and meeting some of the pupils sponsored by her colleagues.
Kirsty said conditions are a world in a car accident a year ago.” vide school uniforms, books, pens, said Kirsty. A child’s school fees cost
away from what her pupils experi- The welcome Kirsty received at canvas bags and a CD player for the just £10 a month and the sponsor
ence. “There are two classes each the school was overwhelming. “It school, and have plans for further will receive regular updates and
with 86 pupils. Some of the children was like nothing I’ve ever known. fundraising for more uniforms and letters about the child’s progress.”
walk five miles to and from school The village elders were there to meet shoes for the children. For details of sponsorship call
each day without shoes.” us, and the children formed a guard “We also want to appeal for her on 07585 313407.
At the moment the classes use of honour. They gave us beautiful anyone who would be interested in • See more of Kirsty’s images at
temporary buildings, but the bricks gifts, and one of the parents spoke sponsoring a child to go to school,” www.swindonlink.com
are now on the site for a permanent very movingly about how touched
Some of the children that Kirsty met at Pastor Joany Bazemo school,
school, to be named after Pastor he is that there are families 3,000 pleased to be included in the universal language of football
Joany Bazemo. Kirsty explained: miles away in Swindon who are
“Pastor Joany did a lot of work helping him care for his children.”
campaigning for the school to be Pupils and staff at Catherine
built, but he was tragically killed Wayte have raised money to pro-

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