Solihull Circle has been raising money for the Chengeta School Project in Zimbabwe for many years and during his presidential year Brother Bill Rawson was no exception.
The charity was founded in 2007 by a family and Brothers Jim and Peter Noonan to build a school adjacent to the Chengeta Safari Park for local children. An abandoned tobacco farm with derelict sheds was acquired, and work began.
Now, 11 years later, they have 16 classrooms, a multi-purpose room with stage for assemblies and a kitchen. They have their own well which gives them a plentiful supply of water, a water tower, 14 teacher cottages and a football pitch. The primary section teaches 350 children and the secondary 350-400 and they provide a midday meal for all.
How have they done this? Amongst other things Jim and Peter have worked almost full-time decorating, gardening and doing almost any type of work where all proceeds have gone to the school. They have undertaken sponsored long-distance walks and given talks to local schools. With the help of a similar group of friends in Holland they have raised a staggering half a million US Dollars.
Solihull Circle has helped in a small way and Bill’s presidential charity last year raised £1640.