Rotary International District 1260

Why not ‘Do the loop’ - sponsored ‘loop the loop’ at
London Gliding Club in Dunstable Downs on 3 Aug 2008.

The Velangaye Secondary School in KwaZulu Natal is in crisis. With 90 students sleeping two to a single bunk last year, there are now about 120 youngsters sleeping at the school and having to lay on straw mattresses between the overcrowded bunk beds. They need beds, bedding, blankets, toilets and washing facilities, more cooking rings and a fridge or two.

There is an award winning school in Kwazulu Natal called Velangaye High School that has attracted some of the brightest young black teenagers from great distances. They come because they want to learn and they know this school will give them a good start in life. They cannot travel home at evening time or weekends because there is no public transport and they come from Swaziland, Botswana, Mozambique as well as KwaZulu Natal.

They have been accepted as resident students but few facilities have been provided for them. The boys sleep out in the community but some 30 girls sleep in a classroom, several to a bed. What beds they have are pushed together so that more can sleep. They have no cupboards or anywhere to put clothes and possessions and they cook their food on some small electric rings in the corner of the room. When I met these youngsters last October one of them told me that they were prepared to put up with anything if they were allowed to stay and learn but the greatest need at the time was for a fridge to stop their food going sour. You can see the delight on the face of the young lady with the new fridge I managed to acquire for them.

But they need more than a fridge, they need somewhere to sleep other than the classroom. They need more bedding, pillows and better cooking facilities, some wardrobe space and a security gate.

To raise money for these things Wolverton and Stony Stratford are looking for volunteers to take up the challenge of doing a sponsored 'Loop the Loop'. Volunteers must pledge to raise just Ł250 to be able to experience the thrill of 'Doing the loop'.

The flights will take place at the London Gliding Club, Dunstable Downs, on September 21st when participants will be aircraft towed in a glider to 2000 feet and spend about 15 minutes in the air and perform a 'loop the loop' before landing. Anyone can do this. Please e-mail me, johnmoss5@supanet.com for details.

New DG Brian and old DG Charles have given their support for this project and I hope you will too. Just Ł250 is all you need to book a place for this amazing experience. Why not fund it from the club funds and run a competition among the members for the right to a flight. Just a thought.