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Quiz Night 2016

Quiz Night 2016

£2,400 raised for twin town in Sierra Leone

The Hastings Sierra Leone Friendship Link’s annual quiz night was a roaring success, raising just over £2,400 to help fund projects in its twin town of Hastings in Sierra Leone. A record number of teams took part in the quiz at the Ark William Parker Academy and last year’s winners, The Blackbirds, were pipped at the post by newcomers The Twinners. The wooden spoon was carried off without a blush by Never Been Quizzed. The Friendship Link reports.

Chairman of the Link, Richard Homewood, said, “This is a tremendous result and our thanks go to all those who came along and so generously supported the event. I would also like to express my personal thanks to all those whose hard work organising and running the event enabled us to raise valuable funds to support projects in Hastings, Sierra Leone, as it struggles to recover from the impact of the Ebola outbreak. A small team recently visited for the first time since the outbreak began in 2014 and have come back with tales of the desperate plight of the community and the work that needs to be done.”

Generous support from Marshall Tufflex, Lloyds Pharmacy and Kiley’s Karpets meant the raffle raised an impressive £461 and Michael Foster, a long-term patron of the Friendship Link, proved his skills once again as an auctioneer, persuading bidders to part with £350 for items including a watercolour by local artist Betty Muffit.

Richard concluded, “I would like to thank everybody who took part for their generosity. This will provide a real boost to our funds and enable us to progress some of the key projects, such as a new delivery wing at the Health Centre, planning how we can further assist schools in coping with an influx of children from the surrounding rural areas and for a new market building to enable local smallholders to access the produce market and earn a living and build a sustainable future for themselves.

“We will be publishing our new Strategy in the near future, setting out how we have engaged with the community, listened to their aspirations for the future and agreed the priority projects that with your help can make a huge difference to their lives and their children’s future.”

Donations can be made online through our website or by cheque made out to Hastings Sierra Leone Friendship Link, or HSLFL, and sent to HSLFL Treasurer, 33 Senlac Way, St Leonards-on-Sea, TN37 7JG.

The Quiz Winners

The winning quiz team.

Why are we twinned with Hastings Sierra Leone?

The village of Hastings, Sierra Leone, had been all but destroyed by the end of the rebel war. In response to requests for assistance in 2001, LOAF Project answered the villagers’ plea. The Hastings SL Friendship Link was formed in 2003 and Hastings Borough Council recognised the value of the relationship which resulted in a formal twinning in 2007.

What does the Link do?

We raise funds so that the people of Hastings, Sierra Leone, can buy the equipment and materials needed to help them rebuild their lives, their homes and their community in the aftermath of the country’s devastating rebel war.

Money raised so far in Hastings and St Leonards has enabled Hastings Sierra Leone residents to complete a number of important projects. In 2010 Hastings Borough Council was awarded funding from the Commonwealth Local Government Forum to work with the Council in Sierra Leone to try to improve waste management and encourage recycling, composting and biogas production from food waste. This work has continued alongside the mainstream work of the Link.

There is, however, still a desperate need for improvements to sanitation, water supply and waste management and a need for medical equipment and supplies to tackle malaria, dysentery, acute diarrhoea, dehydration, malnutrition and the high rates of infant mortality that are factors of everyday life in Hastings SL.

Continued commitment

Life in Hastings village isn’t easy, but the people there are wonderfully kind, very generous and welcoming. Established friendships and regular communication with our partners in the village will enable us to continue to work closely with them and provide the things they need in order to respond to both present and future challenges.

What we have achieved so far is extremely rewarding and is enriching both their lives and ours. We remain committed to continuing this work into the future. We would encourage you to join us in the Friendship Link and help us build a sustainable future for the people of Hastings, Sierra Leone.

Find out more about the Friendship Link on our website, where you can also donate to the charity through the Charity Checkout button.

 

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Posted 11:08 Monday, Apr 4, 2016 In: The HOT Planet

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