Causes
We are looking for 2 charities to support in 2012 – one local and one international. If you know a charity that you think we should support (and who you think could provide 10+ volunteers on the day to man a stall, shake buckets and explain what the charity is all about), then put the details in this online form http://bit.ly/wf17UA and we’ll enter them in to the vote at the meeting on 6th March. Please note final date for nominations is at the meeting on 29th Feb.
At Peace in the Park 2011 we raised money for, and promoting the good causes listed below. After counting up the collections, the final total reached was £2500, which meant that each charity received £1250.
Local
Sheffield Mind – provide a free counselling and therapy service, which also includes short-term counselling and groupwork, the Sheffield Mind and Body Project which provides wellbeing groups and workshops in some of Sheffield’s most deprived areas, a mental heath information service, a befriending and support work service and an extensive volunteer programme which supports many current and former service users to get valuable experience and skills through volunteering. We are also part of an Yorkshire-wide Employment Retention Scheme to help people suffering mental health difficulties to stay in work.
International
Self Help Africa – works in nine countries across Africa supporting farming communities to grow enough food to eat, to earn an income & to develop the skills to ensure they can move away from the daily grind of poverty to a more secure future. Simple things like access to training, seed and tools will change lives for ever. And the benefits go on and on as we expect all project participants to pay back what they have been given – seeds, livestock, even training. This means that more and more people are reached.
If you have a few spare moments, please sign their petition in favour of supporting rural African women: www.changeherlife.org
In 2010 Peace in the Park raised money for the following good causes…
Local (2010)
Sheffield Hospitals Charitable Trust is one of more than 400 registered charities in the UK associated with NHS Trusts. Together these charities contribute £400million each year to patient care. Their aim is not to fund patient care, but to enhance and improve it – providing grants to projects that are over and above those served by government funding.
As a local charity with such a wide remit, Sheffield Hospitals Charitable Trust could, at some point, have a major impact on the life of anyone living in Sheffield, or in many cases, South Yorkshire and beyond. The charity’s specific aims are:
- Improving levels of patient care;
- Improving environments for patients and staff;
- Providing additional support for staff training;
- Providing financial support for the advancement of independent scientific and medical research;
- Growing levels of charitable giving to ensure the work can continue
International (2010)
Osotua Women’s Group international charity, was set up to help Massai women in Kenya. They have helped install water tanks in remote villages that have been hit by serious droughts and given support to the local women. Currently there is a project to build a nursery school for children in an area where it can take 2½ hours for them to reach the nearest school. The local adults will also be able to learn to read and write here. To build the school it will cost around £5000. The Massai are African tribes people that are well known for their brightly coloured and intricate bead work. They traditionally live in remote areas and have little access to education.
International (2009)
The international cause we chose to support in 2009 was Village Aid.
Village Aid is an international development charity supporting a number of projects in West Africa. For example in Sierra Leone, we work with young people, helping to promote peace and unity amongst the community in a country which is still overcoming a long civil war. We also help young single mothers gain skills to help them become employable. We also support an orphanage and provide uniforms and school equipment for children as well as scholarships for young adults. Click here for a brief video produced by Village Aid.
Local (2009)
The Local cause we chose to support in 2009 was NOMAD
NOMAD Homeless Advice and Support Unit is an independent organisation which offers advice, support and practical help to homeless or inadequately housed people, or those in housing need. NOMAD believes that everyone has the right to a decent, safe and affordable home. Projects include tenancy support schemes in Burngreave, Southey / Owlerton and Firth Park, supporting young people towards living independently, a Bond Guarantee Scheme that helps people to access private rented accommodation and training.
Peace in the Park Festival Self Help Africa Reading Aloud World Record Attempt • Reading Matters said,
January 17, 2012 @ 3:32 pm
[...] Reading Zone Website, I learnt about a great event at my favourite local festival.One of the chosen causes at the Peace in the Park Festival on 4 June 2011 in Sheffield is Self Help Africa. At the [...]
Marina at Self Help Africa said,
December 8, 2011 @ 12:16 pm
I thought that I had poste this up months ago but obviously not…apologies….
Despite everyone’s efforts & the fact that on they day we had beaten the Guinness World Record (GWR), re the number of adults reading to children set in November 2010, we didn’t know at the time that crowds had amassed in Texas in May 2011 & had taken the record before we even got a look in. Self Help Africa staff had checked the day before the festival in Sheffield but the GWR system doesn’t tell you if there are any records awaiting GWR verification. In case you want to see the figures:
The most adults reading to children at a single location was 347 adults who read to 991 children at an event organised by Matzke Elementary School (USA) in Houston, Texas, USA, on 6 May 2011.
For our attempt at Peace in the PArk in 2011 we managed:
281 adults.
412 children
I hope you’d agree that although we didn’t break the record this time we still had a fantastic day which was made possible by your involvement & support. Thank you & wishing you all a brilliant PitP this year!
Marina at Self Help Africa said,
September 6, 2011 @ 11:17 am
Hi all.
Just sending a huge thanks to everyone at this year’s (2011) festival who supported, donated to, asked about Self Help Africa’s work with rural communities. We are delighted that the donations raised £2,500 which was spilt between SHA & Sheffield Mind. It was a fantastic day, aided by the spirit of the folk who attended & the organisers who made us feel really welcome. Best of luck for future years!!!!
Marina Churm said,
June 2, 2011 @ 3:16 pm
Self Help Africa have been given three 10min chances to give talks at this year’s festival. We are interested finding out what YOU would like us to talk about….either make a suggestion here or visit our facebook (…Self-Help-Africa) or twitter pages @selfhelp_africa
Marina Churm said,
May 19, 2011 @ 1:12 pm
Just to update you if you are interested… Self Help Africa have been contacting as many Sure Start centres & local schools to promote the festival & The Big Read.
Thanks to Davo on the festival organising team who designed the black & white poster that we have sent out.
We are just off to our local bedding shop to get some photos of bedtime storytelling which we’ll be sending off with press releases to the local press.
Can anyone think of where else we could promote this event & help to make it a roaring success?
Marina Churm said,
May 18, 2011 @ 1:24 pm
Just sending out a big thanks to the anonymous supporter who has donated enough tape to help us marshall the area that is going to be used for The Big Read at 3pm.
We (that could involve you too) will be attempting to break the Guinness World Record of the most adults reading the same story to children. For a £2.50 donation from each participating adult you’ll get a colour photocopy of an adaptation of a southern Africa folk story “Tortoise gets Food” & the reward of being a World Record Breaker!!!
Marina Churm said,
May 15, 2011 @ 10:23 am
We at Self Help Africa are absolutely delighted to be attending this year’s festival as the chosen international charity. We are busy preparing to help all of the festival go-ers break the Guinness World Record at the Most Adults reading to Children. We been donated an Africa-themed folklore story & have the help of Sheffield-based storytellers, authors as well as the local libraries & more. Come along at 2.30pm ish & join the crowd!
George said,
April 13, 2011 @ 4:30 pm
Great to see that you’ve selected Self Help Africa as your chosen charity this year. They are a great organisation doing really effective work in sub-Saharan Africa.
Ramon Mohamed said,
May 7, 2010 @ 6:54 pm
I am a dual heritage Sheffield born teacher and last year I went to Afghanistan,
the North West Frontier of Pakistan and Azad kashmir to explore my roots and
look at schools/education. I took a parachute-my weapon of mass participation
and cooperation. If you look at my website you will see pictures and camcorder
film on youtube about my experiences of schools with no buildings no resources
no teachers etc… I went again last month and visited schools in the Mardan and
Swabi areas. I promised those children and teachers that I would do anything to
raise the profile of buiding and resourcing schools. I am emailing in the possiblity
of peacinthepark supporting my cause.
Thanks
Ramon Mohamed
barneyharris said,
May 24, 2010 @ 4:59 pm
Thanks you for contacting us Ramon, speak soon!