By Jeff
Jones
A Frankston-based charity is making
a significant effort to care for AIDS orphans and other
destitute children in Africa.
The Australian AIDS Fund is building a primary/secondary
school to care for up to 300 children in Malawi,
and is looking to Frankston schools and students to help
with the project.
The fund is working with Searchlight
Orphan Care in Malawi
to build the school, which has been named The Australian
School.
S Malawi
is one of the 10 poorest countries in the world.
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“Now we’ve tackled our greatest challenge ever. We’re working
in partnership with the villagers to help them realise a
desperate dream – a combined primary/secondary school of
their own to spare them walking barefoot to distant schools
miles away.”
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“The women walk for miles to fetch
the water, which they carry in pots on their heads, to make
the bricks.”
Mr. Haill said the fund would also approach Dunkley federal Liberal MP Bruce
Billson seeking his support for the project in his role
as Parliamentary Secretary to Foreign Affairs.
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Founder
of The Australian AIDS Fund and former ABC newsman Brian Haill |
The fund’s founder,
Brian Haill, said the organisation received a desperate
SOS this year from Searchlight seeking help to provide support,
shelter, and education in a remote area of Malawi.
Mr. Haill said the fund bought a
house for the remote village to accommodate about 30 orphans.
“We also bought a strip of farmland to help them grow their
own food, but Malawi
is presently gripped by drought and famine.” Mr. Haill said.
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“These are people really
on the edge. Those who are in work earn less than a dollar
a day and the drought is constantly driving up the cost of
basic food grains.”
Mr. Haill said the villagers were working with contract
builders on the project, which has four classrooms and a
stand-alone staff office.
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The $30,000 project will be completed
by the end of next month. “Our next hurdle will be to find
the money (about $10,000) to buy the school furniture...seats,
some desks, shelving, blackboards and basic supplies.”
“Then there are text books for the
300 youngsters and their teachers and some playground items
like footballs and a couple of see-saws.”
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“We will be asking him to put a little gift pack together
comprising an Australian flag, some books for the children,
and perhaps something for the school kitty.”
Mr. Haill said the Frankston community and schools could
also support the project.
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“Schools could consider a gold-coin free dress day as the
most painless way of all to help...others may want to consider
other fundraising ideas. All would be welcome.”
Donations, with cheques payable to The Australian AIDS Fund
Incorporated, can be sent to The Australian AIDS Fund Inc.,
PO Box 1347, Frankston 3199.
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