The eleventh fundraising event ‘Celebration of Christmas’ in aid of Sparrow Schools, took place on Thursday 8th December 2016 at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. The carol service was attended by special guests including John McCarthy, CBE, Journalist and Radio 4 presenter, Paddy O’Connell, presenter of Radio 4’s ‘Sunday Favourite’ Broadcasting House and David Robb, also known as Dr Clarkson in ITV’s Downton Abbey. Two teachers from Sparrow Schools, South Africa also attended the event. Norval Petersen, Science teacher at Sparrow Combined School and Kagiso Magano, English teacher at Sparrow Foundation School were selected for the first Teacher Exchange Programme between Sparrow Schools and Dulwich Prep College. The teachers read a letter from the Rays of Hope Children’s home, which recently sent ten pupils from the poorer township of Alexandra to Sparrow. The letter demonstrated to the audience how their donations are enabling Sparrow Schools to change the lives of disadvantaged children in Johannesburg.
Kagiso Magano, George Marsh (Founder of Sparrow School Foundation), Ann Marsh, Norval Petersen.
All the profit from the evening went towards developing Sparrow Combined School’s Science laboratory revamp. The South African youth’s mathematical and science competency is one of the major developmental issues that Sparrow is trying to tackle, with only limited resources available.
If you would like to support children with learning difficulties from disadvantaged backgrounds, you can make a donation to the Trust, sign up to Sparrow’s ‘Educate A Child’ Programme or join the Bursary Scheme. £750 for three years will fund a bursary for a selected pupil at Sparrow. These bursaries are for young people who cannot pay basic school fees and receive no support from family members, government or other charities.
Please contact lizzie@sparrowschools.co.za for further information.