Spooner Row pupils raise funds for new school in Sierra Leone

Lucy Wright Tuesday, November 27, 2012
8.26 AM

From baking cakes to holding gymnastic shows, children at a south Norfolk primary school have been on a fundraising mission to help build a new school in Sierra Leone.

Over the past two years, pupils, staff and families have raised more than £2,000 for Street Child of Sierra Leone.

Father-of-two Andrew Ward, who is married to Sarah, a teacher at the school, raised £1,200 by running the London Marathon. Louise Bodily, whose daughter, Grace, seven, goes to Spooner Row primary, swapped her long hair which fell to her waist, for a number three crop, and raised £500.

Chloe Brett, charity coordinator, said: “Patifu Kalonko Primary School was destroyed in Sierra Leone last week and they are desperate for the money.

“It will be used to build a temporary structure which will last for between three and five years.

“The school has three teachers and 186 children.”

The temporary structure will be complete before Christmas. “It will take a couple of weeks to build,” Ms Brett added.

“The local community works so hard, they want their children to be in education.”

Headteacher Pauline Powrie said: “The children have completed a whole topic on Sierra Leone.

“They have held a cake sale and a skipathon and the school council held a sleigh raffle where they auctioned off presents.”

She also praised seven-year-old Eve Keryell who organised a gymnastics display and charged her family to watch, raising £23 for the charity.

“Most of the activities were down to the pupils themselves which was very good.”