Help Scouts build a Centre for Orphans in Africa

Help young people in Berkshire to help young people in Africa

We are three 13 year old Scouts; Marcus, Rocky and Travis from a village in Berkshire. We are giving up our summer holidays next year (2024) to build a community centre for Orphaned children in Malawi. We are hoping to raise enough money to enable us to receive the training and to be able to buy the materials we need to complete the project (£3,750 each for training, travel, food, camping equipment, insurance, and a modest contribution to project costs, etc) The trip is going to involve a lot of hard work in Africa, and before we set off we have many training weekends too.

We are so grateful for any donations however big or small, it will all enable us to improve the lives of the Mawali children. We are working hard helping the village with recycling, pet sitting, making and selling sweet cones and chocolate lollies. We are hosting an auction and would love any items/services that you are happy to donate for this great cause. More details will follow shortly.

Thank you so much, we will keep you updated on our progress.

About Malawi 2024 (Berkshire Scouts – Project Africa)

Berkshire Scouts have been operating an active and successful international community

programme (Project Africa) for more than a decade. The aim of the programme is to help our

young people understand the lives of their peers in a different culture and to provide support

through projects. Young people supporting young people.

Since 2011, more than 300 Scouts (14–18 years) and leaders have travelled to Uganda to

take part in project work. In addition to helping local communities, it will be appreciated the

Scouts have also benefitted enormously from the experience and several have gone on to

make their careers in the area of international development. Our journey so far can be seen

via this link: https://www.berkshirescouts.org.uk/project-africa-uganda

Following time lost to Covid, Project Africa is now entering a new phase and plans are well

underway to travel with just under 100 Scouts and leaders to Malawi in 2024 to partner with

‘Joshua in Malawi’ (a British charity): https://www.joshuainmalawi.org.uk

The charity supports 17 feeding stations and community centres in the area of Blantyre (southern Malawi). A recent recce to Malawi by four leaders has seen the great work by ‘Joshua’ and identified the projects for 2024. A short video of the recce can be seen via: https://www.berkshirescouts.org.uk/project-africa-2024

The projects in Malawi will be similar to those completed in Uganda, ie: working alongside local builders to build a local community centre and to refurbish existing centres and schools. The second page to this information letter shows a building completed by ‘Joshua’ which Berkshire Scouts will replicate in the village of Milo (near Blantyre) as well as refurbishing a community centre in a nearby village.

Southern Malawi suffered a catastrophic cyclone (‘Freddy’) earlier this year and much of village infrastructure was swept away in floods and mud slides and so there is a great need for rebuilding local community infrastructure.

The individual Scouts have a real challenge in funding their part in the project (£3,750 each for training, travel, food, camping equipment, insurance, and a modest contribution to project costs, etc), Berkshire Scouts are seeking central funding to support the major share of project work which is estimated at £27,000. It’s hoped the majority of project costs can be secured through central fundraising.