AUGUST 2011 Newsletter

Great News!!! At last we have been able to fund a container at Hewell Prison near Redditch at a total cost, including delivery etc, of £2860.
Now our new project can really get started!
This involves some of the prisoners refurbishing donated equipment, such as desks, sewing machines, and computers, prior to sending out to Africa. The equipment has been transferred from Brett’s works to the prison and stored in the container so that the work can begin. More Braille books have been collected from Sevenoaks School for the blind in Kent to add to the stock we already had which has also been moved to the prison. Vivienne and Linda who have voluntarily packed Braille books for Africa Equip for some time have visited the prison to train a group of prisoners so that the Braille script is not crushed when packed. The photo shows the container in position at the prison.

We continue to support the blind Swaziland Christ Worshippers Choir by meeting their rent and some of their utility costs. They have recently managed to set up a small music room to practice and record their music. They generate a small income for themselves by singing on the streets and occasionally taking part in concerts and competitions.
The photographs show the music room and the minibus they use for transport which was purchased with the proceeds from the choir’s UK tour in 2008.
We have received the following letter from The Swaziland National Library thanking us for the 300 Braille books sent them by Africa Equip.
Africa equip has a strong link to a young trainee teacher called Colile whose home is in a very poor rural village called Ejubukweni where AIDS has wiped out most of the younger adults leaving many orphans who are in the care of elderly grandmothers.

We recently had a donation specifically to help the orphans of this region. Colile received the donation and provided toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap and towels for twenty orphan children. Gum disease and tooth decay are very prevalent in Africa because of the lack of the basic toiletries that we take so much for granted. The children were thrilled to receive their gifts and Colile encouraged them to brush their teeth twice a day to keep them clean.
We also recently sent hand knitted children’s jumpers and shawls for the elderly to Colile, who distributed them to the most needy.

The photographs show a widow, named Nkosi, wearing her new shawl, two orphans in their new jumpers and Anele, one of the orphans who received the toiletries.
Thank you all for your continued support

Most of Africa Equip's effort over the last few months has gone to establishing the Christ Worshipers Choir in their new home, and providing household equipment for their use. Photos show the house, the new cooker, and new fridge freezer. We continue to support them through meeting their rent and facilities bills and making a contribution to their food costs.

Wendy Brown, from Birmingham Christian Centre, who is now working as a teacher at the Lighthouse Orphanage, Swaziland, visited the choir and arranged for them to give a concert at the orphanage. She sent us the following photos showing her with the choir in front of the minibus and house and several from the concert at the Orphanage. Jane an English nurse with whom we have contact runs the orphanage with Wendy’s help.

The Choir and everyone at the orphanage thoroughly enjoyed the occasion.

Plans are proceeding to involve inmates at Hewell Open Prison near Redditch to help us with our work by refurbishing donated equipment such as desks sewing machines and computers prior to sending out to Africa. To get this started we have to provide a storage container at the prison which we hope to provide soon. Thank you all for your continued support