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Number 15 June 2011

ROGBONKO TEAMS GO GREEN!

In our last newsletter we told you about the new primary school football league being hosted by Rogbonko School. When we visited last October the kids told us they would love their own strip and so we appealed to you. Former Celtic Chairman Brian Quinn used to live in Sierra Leone and along with wife Mary is a long term supporter of the school.When he heard the kids’ wish, he decided they must wear green and persuaded Celtic Club to donate full strips for both teams. The strips were presented by Simon Westcott of the Trust when he visited in April Our appeal also raised £255 in donations which we have used to buy practise bibs and 35 new footballs. Huge thanks to Mary and Brian Quinn and everyone who helped support Rogbonko’s football squads.

Rogbonko School Girls’ Squad and Boys Squad sporting the new green and white Celtic hoops.

Tragedy as wildfire destroys harvest Last year we were delighted to report that Rogbonko’s farmers had brought in their biggest ever harvest since the war years. This was due in part to good weather as well as a government programme to provide tractors to rural communities, but also a sign that peace had truly returned to Sierra Leone. Tragically in January, wildfire struck Rogbonko. The villagers battled the flames for
several days. When the fire, which began in the fields belonging to a nearby village, was finally extinguished several farms were totally or partially destroyed. A total of thirteen families in Rogbonko lost their harvest and therefore their entire food stocks for the year. Several families in the village near where the fire started also lost their homes.
Wildfire is a major problem in rural West Africa, where the rains are followed by six months of temperatures which easily reach 45 degrees and little or no rainfall. Once a fire has caught hold even traditional firebreaks are of little use. This is the second time in recent years Rogbonko has been the victim of wildfire. Last time the fire struck at the opposite end of the village and came close to threatening the school. New fire fighting techniques are being introduced in rural areas in Sierra Leone, but wildfire remains a grave danger to farmers.


Breakfast Club appeal
We didn’t think we were going to have to, but sadly we do. The Rogbonko School Breakfast Club was discontinued earlier this
year by the Parents Committee, who told us it was no longer needed due to the good harvest. Sadly, most of the harvest has been destroyed by the fire. We’ll be running the Club again from next month, which is the start of the ‘hungry season.’ We realise most of you support us with regular contributions and times are hard for everyone, but do please consider sending whatever you can spare. In the past it has cost only £1300 to feed 200 children one meal a day for six months, so even £5 or £10 makes a real difference.

And finally... thanks to Don  of A Ray of Hope  who has made a gift of several items on our wish list including a school clock, wastepaper baskets for the classrooms and extra sports equipment. Thanks,
Don! 

Rogbonko Village School Trust, 161 Waller Road, SE14 5LX . Rogbonkotrust@aol.com
School Administrator Morlai Forna shows some of the fire damage