LearnAsOne

WalkAsOne: London Bridges sponsored walk

We would like to invite you to join the LearnAsOne team on Saturday 5 June for the London Bridges WalkAsOne event.

The idea is simple

A 14km or 28km sponsored walk along the River Thames. Every time you come to a bridge, cross it. When you arrive at Tower Bridge you’ve finished and are invited to join us in the pub for refreshments.

Date: Sat 5 June 2010
Time: 10am (28km) or 2pm (14km)
Start: Kew Bridge (28km) or Battersea Park (14km)
Finish: Tower Bridge

Why are we walking?

When we were in Zambia, we met an 8-year-old orphan called Saviour. Every day she walks 14km to attend school. She is happy but there is a problem; her school is a borrowed farmhouse and the owner needs it back.

Thanks to the generosity of the LearnAsOne community and Care International four new classrooms are now being built. We are walking to fund the final classroom. You can watch Saviour’s story below.

Fundraising target

Our target for the walk is £5,700. That’s 100 walkers, all raising around £57. It would fund the final classroom at Simakakata and would help to secure the education of over 200 children.

If we reach the fundraising target, the walker who raises the most money will be offered the chance to have the classroom named in their honour.

Sign up

Decide which walk you want do (14km or 28km). Click on the appropriate button below and ‘buy’ yourself a free ticket. We’re using Eventbrite (external site) because it’s a free and simple way to send you details about the walk.

Then set up a fundraising page on JustGiving and start raising money!

In September we’ll return to Zambia and show you the money you raise in action.

Introducing BuskAsOne

19-25 April 2010 is the first ever BuskAsOne week. We are asking you to donate your time and musical talents by taking to the streets to busk for a few hours to raise funds so children like Saviour can go to school in Africa.

In September we will return to Zambia and share stories, photos and videos from the schools to show you exactly how the money you raise is spent.

If you are not a musician then you can still help by emailing, Facebooking or MySpacing your favourite band and asking them to busk.

How do you organise your BuskAsOne?

The two key things are choosing a good location and getting permission to busk from your local council. After that it’s very much up to you. And if you can get fellow musicians involved all the better. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

• Choose a location and pick a date during our busk week.
• If it’s not on private land ask your local council for permission.
• Email [email protected] and tell us when & where you are playing.
• Download this poster (PDF) so people know why you are busking.
• Tell the local press so you can get your piccy in the paper. And try to get it filmed and upload onto YouTube too (tag it LearnAsOne).
• Busk!

Once you’ve finished collect up the money and pay the money in online at www.justgiving.com/buskasone or send a cheque to this address.

How will the money raised be spent?

The funds you raise will pay for the building materials that allow the final classroom to be constructed at Simakakata. The building work will be carried out by the community

The costs

• £5,700 for the raw materials for the classroom.

Have a classroom or teacher’s house named after you

The busker who raises the most money will be offered the chance to have the final classroom named after them.

Earlier this year Shaun Connell contacted me and offered to throw himself out of a plane for LearnAsOne. Mission recently accomplished Shaun has now set his sights on organising a fundrasing party in New York on 24th October. I’m in awe of volunteers like Shaun. Here’s his story.

Volunteer Shaun

Hi. I’m Shaun. I volunteer because opening access to education is close to my heart. I volunteer because it would be wrong not to. Too many children are subjected to poverty because they do not receive the education and training they need to succeed.

I am really impressed with LearnAsOne and their holistic approach to changing the fortunes of children like Saviour. LearnAsOne is an investment in the future of business and community leaders, teachers, charity workers and medics in the Simakakta community, Zambia and beyond. It’s great that the LearnAsOne investment is fuelled by the continued support of everyday people like you and me.

Live For Today... Plan For Tomorrow... PartyAsOne!

Conversations with Steve inspired me and three friends to setup a not-for-profit company (YAHYAHYAY) and host PartyAsOne in New York on 24th October. PartyAsOne is your chance to party carnival style while raising funds for LearnAsOne. Three of New York’s hottest calypso, soca and reggae DJ’s will help you to dance the evening away onboard the Paddlewheel Queen. Feel free to shake your leg and enjoy the delights of a free buffet supplied by some of the hottest party caterers in New York.

Help make PartyAsOne be a night to remember. Plan to be there. Tickets are available at www.yahyahyay.org.

Tickets reduced to $40 this week only. Get yours now!

Shaun doesn’t just organised parties

I don’t know what scares me more, heights or the effects of no education so I decided to tackle both my completing a 12,800 foot skydive. So far I have raised £615.

My sense of achievement is immense. One second I was perched on the edge of a plane enjoying an amazing view of the sky, the next I was hurtling towards the ground at 130mph. 5 minutes later I was back on the ground celebrating with family and friends. I would like to thank Keith – my jump instructor – and every one who sponsored my jump. We did it together.

If you are based in New York join Shaun on Saturday 24 October and PartyAsOne. Get your tickets at www.yahyahyay.org. And if you’d like to organise your own party please get in touch.

Relax with your friends and family. Go to church. Consume too many chocolate eggs. Watch the Masters. Just a few of things most of you will probably be doing over Easter.

But I have agreed (read been persuaded) to cycle the length of Wales along with 7 others by Volunteer Nerys (the TV producer coming to Zambia). That’s 250 miles and 3 mountain ranges. It’s called the Lon Las Challenge and is one of the hardest cycling routes in the UK, starting in Hollyhead and finishing in Chepstow. The less said about the weather forecast the better!

Why are we doing this?

To raise money of course. It will all go towards the first community school project in Zambia. Which you can see us document live in May. You can even ask questions for the community to answer. So if you donate to the cyclists (Cennydd, Andrew, Juliet, Nick, Harriet, Phil, Nerys and me) you’ll get to see exactly where you money will go in just over a months time.

Follow the cycle live

It’s only right that you can have a giggle at our pain and suffering. You’ll be able to follow our progress on twitter and via GPS.

Please sponsor us

You can make a secure donation via Just Giving. Then log-on to the site again from 11 May, follow the trip to Zambia and see exactly who your money will help.

Big thank you’s go to Wheelies of Swansea for lending Nerys a bike and to Hannah Davies for helping with the logisitcs.