UK Charity Commission Registration Number 1120536
 

Project Virgo

Creating a free Hadana (Nursery School) in Qurna

Please scroll down the page to read our project updates

January 2010

In January 2010 the new equipment for thr hadana was bought in Cairo. We were able to purchase tables, chairs and storage cabinets in Luxor but it proved impossible to find educational toys that were sufficiently interesting or rebust. A visit to ToysRus in Cairo solved the problem as we are were able buy Little Tikes and MegaBlok items. However, as the goods were imported they were more expensive than in the UK. We think that this will be cost effective as they should last well and stimulate the children. So far, the tables, chairs and equipment have cost in the region of £1,500 sterling. Building work and carpentry costing a similar amount is being carried out this month

|September 2009

When we first considered opening a free hadana (nursery school) for our disadvantaged and disabled children we thought of using the old clinic buildings in Seul. However, on inspection the buildings were substandard and needed a lot of work to bring them up to an acceptable level. The only strong point about them was the garden, which actually had not been used by the children in all the years that the clinic had been open. When the shop next to the new clinic became available we jumped at the opportunity to take it over. It was some time before we are able to get possession so the original proposed opening date was greatly delayed but we are now able to start work getting the classrooms in order.

As can be seen from the above photos, the rooms are already plastered and the floors tiled so all that needs to be done is to redecorate and add furniture and to add boards for teaching and for pinning up pupils' work. Railings will be added to the top of the steps to prevent children from injuring themselves or from roaming into the road. We are very excited about the project. Staff will be interviewed in the near future. Most hadanas have approximately 60 - 70 children in each class but we are aiming to have 24 - 30 with a teacher and two assistants.

April 2009

Stop Press - Thanks to your wonderful support, we have signed a lease on a large area of the same building that houses our west bank clinic. Our aim is to open a Hadana there for disadvantaged and disabled children in September 2009.

March 2009

The building of a new Hadana (Nursery School) at Seul has been postponed due to the drastic fall in the value of sterling. This project will be reinstated as soon as the value of sterling improves.

The aim of our educational provision has shifted towards individual long-term educational support in those families in our 'care' and those families who have sponsor support. This will not only concern the paying of school fees but will involve fitting each child with a school uniform, shoes, school bag and stationery and making sure that its health needs are also catered for. When there are up to eight children in a family then this will be costly and we will need your help to achieve this aim.

Monthly support is given to the Good Samaritans school for the employment of teachers and the video camera that they needed is being delivered to them at the end of March 2009 as a gift from Little Stars supporters.

September 2008

During the winter of 2007/2008 Little Stars paid the school fees of 200 children who otherwise might not have received an education. While education is important in itself, unless a child is in school it may not be entitled to other benefits like free hospital care. Education is compulsory in Egypt but it is not free and every child needs a school uniform. When there are five or six children in a family and money is very short, then most of them will never receive an education of any kind. Little Stars aims to help where it can and pay school fees for enthusiastic children where possible.

Through a monthly donation, Little Stars pays the salaries of three teachers at the God Samaritan Home and is trying to update some of their equipment. Half the cost of transportation of children to the school is also covered.

Pens, pencils and exercise books can be bought cheaply in Europe from chain-store stationers but they can also be bought cheaply in Luxor and distributed to those that need them most. Enough stationery to kit out a whole class can be bought for a small sum - probably less than many will spend in one evening of eating out. Buying them locally negates the need for getting them to Luxor. Disadvantaged children from poor homes really cannot afford even the most basic writing implements.

Stimulating toys are not readily available in Luxor and need to be brought out from Europe. Unfortunately locally bought toys fall to pieces very quickly and bring disappointment rather than joy. Perhaps there are strong but outgrown children’s toys in your loft that could be put to good use. Many of them are not heavy and are easily packed inside a case.

Children at the Good Samaritan School	Learn how to take care of themselves

The new clinic for disabled children on the west bank should open soon and the old building is, with the relevant permissions, being turned into a Hadana (nursery school) for local children. Initially the school will take approximately twenty children from the village of Seul. The building is not large but it will be adequate for this purpose and does not need an extensive amount of work to prepare it. Funds have been set aside for this but we still need your help to staff and equip it.

Please remember the children and bring whatever you can with you when you come to Luxor or make a donation so that we can act of your behalf. Thank you.