Burkina Faso
In just over a year Mrs Le Dune has been working with this charity to provide much-needed resources to one of the poorest countries in Africa. She and her husband were inspired to visit the country after watching a DVD fronted by Bob Geldof. They visited Burkina Faso in February 2008 and plan to make a return journey in February 2009.
“Once you have been there you feel as if you have to act,” said Mrs Le Dune who teaches Art and has three of her four children attending The Hermitage. “We went over there with a guy called Dr. John Birch, OBE, who now works with the United Nations. I was immediately inspired to come back and actually do something in a practical way to help the people of Burkina.”
One of the first things she did was to ask the School Council for a donation. They agreed to give £750 from the charity monies raised during the course of the year. Some of the money is intended for the Dorcas Women’s Centre. This provides accommodation, a toilet and running water for single mothers and widows. £100 enables each woman to undertake a three year course that will lead to qualifications and the ability to set up their own businesses. For example, they buy sewing machines, sell the products of their labours and then any profits go back into the Centre so that more women can be trained.
Mrs Le Dune added, “We are also looking to build a primary school in the neighbouring country of Mali. Education is absolutely key to the development of the communities and so any help we can provide is put to very good use. You would be amazed how such a little can go a long way.”
If you want to know more about Mrs Le Dune’s work with the organisation, or her next visit to Burkina, please see her in her Art room.
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