Tea and Chat ladies – Rattray, Scotland

Out of the blue, we've been contacted by Fionna Black, on behalf of a group of four ladies involved in outreach from Rattray Parish Church, who call themselves "Tea & Chat", providing friendship in a local sheltered housing complex.

They do not fund-raise, but everyone pays 50p for the Tea & Chat afternoon (some pay more). This year, the group wishes its donation (£260) to go to the work of the eye clinic in Livingstonia (three of the group are visually impaired, so they have particular sympathies in this area).

Thank you so much Fionna and the Tea and Chat group. This donation will go towards purchasing some specialised equipment for the Livingstonia eye clinic.

Blind School fundraising: thank you St Stephen's, Colchester

Following the fundraising curry night organised by St Stephen's, New Town, Colchester (see previous post), Focus on Malawi received a total of £243, some of it Gift Aided (this was just half of the sum raised, the other amount went to the Korban Project, which supports young women at risk, in Colchester).

The Blind School was personally presented with the money this week, and the teacher in charge, Logen Kumwenda, has already emailed us with his thanks. The money will be used to buy food, to transport some pupils to a hospital for eye operations, and to upgrade teaching equipment.

Thanks go the 100 people who attended, to the organiser Chris Liddamore, the cooks, and other helpers at St Stephens. And not forgetting the Colchester Tribal Dancers who entertained everyone at no charge!