Page 43 - link magazine

swindonlink.com • May 2012 43
Schools enterprise
challenge to support
Nepal orphanage
To celebrate the third birthday of
the Friends of Angel’s Orphanage
this May, charity founders Rosa
and Ian Matheson are inviting six
Swindon schools to participate in a
micro-finance enterprise competi-
tion to double their money in aid
of the Nepalese orphans.
Explaining the project, Rosa said:
“As it’s our third birthday we’d
like to double that up and offer six
schools in Swindon the opportunity
to take part.
“We will loan each participating
school £50 which we would like
them to double up as many times as
they can to raise money for Angel’s.

Youngsters at Angel’s holding an en-
try to last Autumn’s Christmas card
competition
“This has got to be done prop-
erly, with a clear business plan
and financial forecasting, so it will
appeal particularly to the young
entrepreneurs of Swindon.
“We will judge the competition on
the basis of which school has done
the best planning and forecasting, as
well as who raises the most money,
and the winning school will get to
keep £50 of their profit to invest
in another project of their choice.”
It is fitting that school-children in
the UK begin to help the Friends as
Rosa hopes to establish an educa-
tional trust fund to assist Angel’s
orphans in the future.
Reflecting on how the charity has
grown, Rosa said: “From sending
£50 the first month we set up the
charity in 2009, we are now send-
ing £500 each month, which is just
enough to pay for food and the
basic necessities for each of Angel’s
21 children. However the effects of
inflation means that very soon this
amount will be too little so we’re
always looking for new ways to
boost funds.
“We need committed monthly
donors to help keep things ticking
over. We currently have 48 regular
donors, but would welcome more.”
If you are a teacher who is inter-
ested in opportunities to enhance
enterprise awareness amongst your
students and pupils, the Friends of
Angel’s Orphanage could be just the
project you’re looking for.
Contact Rosa Matheson for de-
tails on 01793 764979 or dr.rmm@
hotmail.co.uk

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