Mamaka Well Appeal
Background
Sandy Wright has been fundraising since the 1970s, starting with sponsored fasts for Oxfam, then one of her sisters was diagnosed with MS so she ran her first London Marathon (for her sister), then another for five different charities. She’s always had a heart for Africa and has previously sponsored children in Uganda. Wanting so when she wanted to raise funds for a new project she had an idea to raise funds to install a well in an African village, as ‘everyone has a right to water’.
Sandy knew someone who worked in Sierra Leone and told him what she wanted to do, and was told about Soriba Sesay, a man from Sierra Leone that now lives in Princethorpe ! He has lived in England for a few years, having met his wife when she was doing voluntary work in a Community Centre for street and war children in Freetown. Sandy arranged to meet him and he told her that in a village called Mamake the women and children had to walk six miles a day to get water, so she decided this was to be the target for her next fundraising work.
Working at the Wolston surgery Sandy fount it very convenient as she met a lot of people to ‘spread the word’. She soon found that her patients were very generous and money started to slowly roll in.
Then she had a ‘phone call from a 94 year old man who had read a newspaper article about her work and wanted to donate £1000 cash ! Fundraising events included ‘Tea at the Ritz’, Coventry Half Marathon, Coffee Mornings, Christmas Party, Pudding Night, a Silent Auction, and sponsored bicycle ride. Planned for the near future are a Per Uno and Aloe Vera night, and ‘A Night in an African Village’, to enable all who have supported her to see what they have done. St Margaret’s School are also involved, and have exchanged pictures and short stories about their school day with the children of Mamaka.
Soriba and Sandy both visited Mamaka, where they witnessed the ceremony of the well being started – she says the villagers were very excited !! They were also able to distribute 30 shoe boxes of toys for the children – donated by the Wolston Liberty Club. The well is now complete and working, and Sandy has already moved on to fundraising for a store to keep rice dry and safe from rats.
Sandy told us she is stunned by the kindness and generosity of the people of Wolston in the support they have given to a small village in one of the poorest countries of the world. She hopes to continue with her fundraising work, perhaps one day being able to support schooling for the children and establish a Credit Union to help the villagers become self supporting.
See some of Sandy's amazing achievements in the links below.
Mamaka Well Appeal - The Background
Mamaka Well Appeal - The Story
Mamaka Well Appeal - Tea at The Ritz
Mamaka Well Appeal - The Completed Well