Wilo UK has formed a relationship with Village School Improvement Project-Zambia – a Somerset-based charity that provides educational opportunities for children in the Eastern Province of Zambia in southern Africa. The initial gift to the charity was a box of Wilo rucksacks, which a number of schoolchildren in Zambia now have and use on the way to and from school every day.
David Hawkins runs the family charity, having been born in and lived in Zambia for many years as a child. He recently returned there with his family and was somewhat surprised and shocked to see the poor quality and rudimentary nature of the educational facilities available for youngsters in the Eastern Province.
David said: “We are really grateful for any help we can get from companies in the UK and Europe to aid our efforts and this initial link with Wilo is very welcome. We currently pay for six trainee teachers, a night security, stationery and as a result of fund raising, will in August begin extending, renovating and equipping the school library, that is one, in name alone.
“Later in the year we will begin doing the same to the existing classrooms. It would be fair to say that we are hopeful that we might be able to persuade companies in the UK to help us, even if in a small way, to provide some major improvements in the educational opportunities currently available in this part of Zambia.”
Wilo’s marketing manager, Morgan Warren-Ross, said: “We were pleased to be able to help in such a small way initially, but having learned more about the charity and the work it does, we would like to be able to get even more involved. We are currently exploring ways in which we can help David and his team.”
You can find out more about the work of the charity at: www.vsip-zambia.com and call David on: 01823 664254 or email at:info@vsip-zambia.com.