To raise the much needed funds there are several activities in place:

·        We have approached schools in New Zealand asking them to have an event or find some creative way for the children to donate.  Roseneath Primary School in Wellington promptly responded by having their children do work at home … some even chose to busk on the street … to raise money. 

·        Our UK Fund-Raisers, Peter Scatchard & Neil Stafford, have organised a sponsored motorcycle ride through England and around Scotland.  See www.rideroundthetop.org for details of the planned ride, themselves and their bikes as well as the means of supporting them on this venture.  Enormous energy has gone into organising and making this as high a profile as possible.

·        The UK Norton owners club (of which Peter Scatchard is the Vice President) have donated the use of their virtual shop for people who wish to donate electronically by buying Gutjwa ‘bonds’.

·        Some philanthropic groups, companies and even Embassies have also been approached with a view to sponsoring one particular section of the upgrade – eg to build one classroom, convert the small office into a medical room or reticulate water for handwashing etc.

·        There are also the two web sites associated with this appeal  which have a range of means of donating plus a 'print off' leaflet to distribute to others.

·        And, it goes without saying that families and friends have all been approached as part of our individual networks...and we have plans to include the children from Gutjwa in some local fund raising activity to help involve them

To further assist with the project, various companies in South Africa have been approached with a request to provide some of the materials.  If we are able to get materials donated, it will help the funds we raise go a whole lot further…

A New Zealand tradesman has offered his services to undertake an individual ‘volunteer abroad’ experience, if needed, by supervising some of the actual work when the programme starts…although we will hire trades people from the local area where possible – to help ownership of the project by the community and also to help support locals with employment.

The UK Sponsored ride has drawn support from several very well known      motorcyclists.  

The following two messages of support, along with others, appear on the www.rideroundthetop.org web site. 

They are repeated here as they underline our philosophy and reason for getting into this in the first place!  But said far more eloquently....

Sam Manicom, author of ‘Into Africa’ and recently ‘Under Asian Skies’ has written:

“Children are the future of South Africa. They don’t ask to have their lives affected so dramatically by AIDs and extreme poverty, but they do ask for the chance to go to school, to grow up, and to have happy useful lives. A chance to go to Gutjwa School means an education, and a future.

These bright hungry minds are full of potential and it’s not only the AIDs orphans that are struggling to survive and to build their lives. For many in South Africa, conditions are harsh and unforgiving. Schools don’t have even the most basic of equipment. On my way through Africa I encountered two types of hunger in many of the children, the hunger that comes from an empty stomach, and the hunger that stems from curiosity and a desire to learn.

Peter and Neil, still on their boyhood British bikes, aren’t just sitting in their garages polishing them - they are out there trying to do their bit to help. I’m proud to have been asked to endorse their attempt to help just some of the children who should have such bright futures.

The children I met in Africa all have the ability to be special people. They are entrepreneurs, doctors, nurses, farmers, school teachers and engineers in the making – if they get help.

And from Ted Simon, author of the seminal round-the-world-on-a-motorcycle book, ‘Jupiter’s Travels’ and more recently “Dreaming of Jupiter”:

“Anyone who has travelled a lot can feel like the merest drop in an ocean of need, but still one has to do something. What I learned is that the best way to help is on a personal, one-to-one basis. If you really want your money to work, and you can't go out there with it yourself, give it to someone you know and trust, who will put real time and effort behind it. I've met Lorraine, I know her and trust her, and I'm sure any money she gets will hit the target. So here's £xx to go where my mouth is. And give Lorraine my love.”