Page 20 - link magazine

Community News

Celebrating 25 years of friendship between Nicaragua and Swindon at Festival of Literature
Two events during the Swindon On Monday 9 May, 6.30pm,
Festival of Literature in May will a Spanish evening in the Arts
reinforce the quarter of a century Centre, Old Town, will continue the
that Swindon has been officially celebration with poetry, dance and
twinned with Ocotal in Nicaragua. song.
Organised by Swindon Ocotal SOL supports a number of
Link (SOL), a day of celebration at education and health programmes.
Lower Shaw Farm on Saturday 7 Anybody interested in joining SOL
May, 10am to 4pm, includes dance, to sustain the link with Ocotal and
cooking and SOL stories, as well as more generally interested in Latin
lunch with a Nicaraguan theme. America and Spanish culture is
Ocotal residents Jorge Calderon encouraged to join in and find out
and Maria Jose Gurrero Figuerro, more.
will be present and organisers hope See event details at www.
the Nicaraguan Ambassador to the swindonfestivalofliterature.co.uk
UK will attend. www.solswindon.co.uk

St. John’s Haydon Wick From 2010, Jorge Calderon from Octoal presenting the Mayor of
Swindon the late Rex Barnett with a letter from the Mayor of Ocotal
On Thames Avenue Radio stories inspire Nepalese children,
next door to
Morrisons but money needed to keep project going
Contact: Swindon writer Christine Tipper has in November when I revisited Nepal
Revd Raymond Adams become a celebrity amongst children and also went to schools. I was
Tel: 634258 in Nepal who listen to her stories humbled and thrilled that so many
which are translated and broadcast children wanted to meet me and ask
Sunday 9am Traditional communion service on radio. about Sabina, Punte and the other
Services 11am Eventful, contemporary worship Working with local charity Sakriya characters.”
with children’s groups meeting Sath, her adventures of Sabina and The project has evolved following
www.stjohnshaydonwick.org.uk Punte Elephant have now attracted the broadcast of a series of
over a million listeners across the Christine’s stories about a magic bus
Open to all, serving tea, coffee, cakes & light lunches country where there is little media with children being asked to send
Fridays and Saturdays: 10am - 2pm provision for children. their own 500 word stories.
She said: “The programme is However Christine says the future

West Swindon and Lydiard Tregoze designed to inspire girls and boys to of the radio project is uncertain. “I’m
be adventurous, solve problems, use
still writing stories full of adventure
Church Partnership their initiative, develop self-esteem and fun for broadcast despite a
serious lack of money. I funded the
and friendships.
Please join us in worship on Sunday mornings “In the aftermath of the earth- first year but can no longer do so.
“I first became involved with
Westlea Church, Westlea School: 10am quake over a year ago, organisations Nepal when, several years ago, I
such as UNESCO, local schools
St Mary’s Lydiard Tregoze and orphanages recognised the started to help Glory School outside
- the church in the park: 10am characters in the story could be a Kathmandu. Swindon people were
Holy Trinity, Shaw: 10.30am way to connect with traumatised so generous last year when the
students lost everything in the
children who needed hope and
Toothill Church: 10.30am psychological support. earthquake. I’d love to hear from
For details of these and our other services “Members of the radio team visited anyone who has ideas on how to
call the Partnership Office on 01793 874221 communities to encourage children help us continue to bring Sabina and
Email: [email protected] Website: WSwinlyd.org.uk to talk about their experiences.” Punte to children across Nepal.”
A recent edition of Navyaata, To find out more contact Christine
Anglican • Baptist • Methodist • United Reformed Church Nepal’s most widely read English at: [email protected]
language glossy magazine featured • Speakers of Nepali can listen to
Christine and the impact of her the stories at www.digimednepal.
stories. She said: “I met the editors info

Christine with actors, producers and a couple of young fans of her
radio stories broadcast in Nepal
20 swindonlink.com n May 2016