education

Street Child to Carpenter – One week to Fascinating Aida’s concert for homeless children

romillyschallengeLeave a comment

Christopher Mulenga of Friends of the Street Children has sent me this photograph of Zacharia graduating.  Zacharia came to the street in 1999 when he was 9 years old. According to Christopher, his parents were drunks and did not care about him. He started attending the open air street corner classes provided by Friends of Street Children (FOSC), and then went into one of FOSC’s residential homes. After a few weeks he ran away. FOSC did not lose contact with Zacharia, and found him a place at a local school where he studied construction and carpentry. He graduated and was given a set of carpentry tools, which he sold a few days later in order to pay for food.Zac ended up on the streets again, but he kept in touch with FOSC. When he was 16  FOSC found him a place at another school. They paid for his accommodation and fees, and once he graduated helped him find work. He is now employed on a building site as a roofer.

Help fund FOSC and the excellent work they do by buying tickets to  FASCINATING AIDA’S  concert for street children. Only 6 days to go. Still a few tickets left.

FASCINATING AIDA

with Massive Violins

At the New 20th Century Theatre, 291 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2QA
7.30 p.m. 3rd December 2012
Tickets £40. Includes white wine and smoked salmon.

RESERVATIONS 0208 994 854

All proceeds to the care of homeless children in Africa. Romilly’s Foundation pays no European salaries

From Street Orphan to High School Graduate

romillyschallenge3 Comments

Christopher Mulenga of Friends of Street Children (FOSC) in Kitwe, Zambia has sent me this picture of Mateo, graduating from Chiwala High School.

Mateo arrived on the  streets, an orphan, at the age of 7 in 1999. This was at the time of conflict in Zaire just across the border. Neither his origins nor the burial place of his parents were ever discovered, though a family in a nearby town claimed him as a relative. This did not stop Mateo ending up back on the street again. Later he was befriended by an old man. He too dumped Mateo on the street. Very early on in his street life Mateo attended the open air street corner classes run by FOSC. Later FOSC took him into one of their homes and sponsored him through school. Mateo worked hard and has graduated from high school.  His ambition is to become a lawyer and a role model for those that find themselves in the same position as he did when he was 7.

Mateo on High School Graduation day

Help support FOSC and the good work they do. Come to Romilly’s Concert, where Fascinating Aida and Massive Violins will be performing, 3rd December, Westbourne Grove, W11. Tickets from Tim and Lizzie Drake 0208 994 8544.

Business Loan or Grant for Security Guards widow

romillyschallengeLeave a comment

Apart from the salary of her now dead husband the widow of the security guard had no other income. Her outlook without her husband’s salary would be bleak and she would be unable to continue sending their youngest son, Philomon, aged 16, to school.  The cost of sending him to school is K985,000 which is about £130 pounds per annum. Romilly will provide this until he leaves school.  Christopher Mulenga of FOSC, which runs the rehabilitation centre, says that with a small grant or loan of £164 Mrs Chilufya would be able to start a business, and provided that this is what she wants to do,  Romilly will provide the £164.

Thank you very much to Romilly’s supporters for making this possible.