Eriez contribute to local charity event
Welsh charity supports school visit to Uganda
After developing a strong relationship with local charity PONT, Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School were given the fantastic opportunity to travel to Mbale in Uganda to offer their much needed help to the local community.
PONT’s aim as a charity is to build a new model of development, based on direct personal relationships between communities in Wales and in Uganda. During the summer of 2011 a group of 17 students and six adults set off to help Busiu SS Secondary School in Uganda. They contributed towards music classes, building sustainable garden areas and even challenged the Uganda’s Woman’s Rugby team to a match. They also provided two wedding dresses to the women’s institution in Uganda and distributed polo shirts donated by Eriez Magnetics to those less fortunate than most.
Eriez Magnetics also gave a donation of £250 towards the event as well as Tom Fears volunteering a day’s work at the company and donating his wage of £37.50 towards the Uganda trip.
For Eriez, supporting charity events such as this is extremely important to them as a company. Paul Fears, managing director of Eriez Europe, commented: ‘This was an opportunity of a lifetime for many of the students and we [Eriez] are pleased to support such an initiative. I am sure that by visiting countries such as Uganda, these students will gain greater understanding and appreciation of life outside the western world. I am also sure their presence made a difference to the people they met.’
The trip provided the volunteers with an insight into the darker side of Uganda, highlighting the realities of life that the local people deal with everyday. Tom Fears, a student who was volunteering on the trip spoke, about some of the shocking sights that they encountered: ‘We saw the orphanage at the place where we all stayed in Salem, and it was heartbreaking to see two baby twins being looked after by a five year old boy, but it was beneficial as we all knew exactly what our money was going to.’
Supporting fundraising events such as this is vital for ensuring that help is given to those who need and deserve it the most. The money raised by the PONT charity, which is located in Pontypridd, goes toward providing a better standard of life for the individuals of Mbale and most importantly will give them hope for the future.
Tom Fears went on to express how grateful he is for Eriez Magnetics contributions to the cause: ‘I would like to personally thank Eriez Magnetics for the incredible donation as without it I would not have been able to take part in this amazing experience.’
For more information on the work that PONT charity carry out visit: http://pont-mbale.org.uk
