Rotary cash helping African orphanage

7:40am Monday 28th January 2013 in Local

Selfless: Lauren Wright with youngsters at the orphanage. Selfless: Lauren Wright with youngsters at the orphanage.

CASH donated to a South African orphanage by Bewdley Rotary Club has been put to good use by helping build a new kitchen for the youngsters.

Selfless teenager Lauren Wright, who volunteers with Rotary’s New Generations exchange programme, flew out to the country to present staff at Botshabelo Children’s Home with the £200 donation, days before Christmas.

The money was raised from the Severn Walk – a sponsored 225-mile stroll that covered the Severn Way –organised by Bewdley and Stourport Rotary clubs, last September.

Lauren, from Bewdley, said: “The home were very grateful for the donation, particularly during the Christmas period, when their resources are stretched. After much deliberation it has been decided to spend the £200 in two ways.

“One hundred and f ifty pounds has gone towards a new milk kitchen, where the bottles are prepared for the children. The existing facility is falling apart and has been infested with termites."

She added the remaining £50 had been spent on drinking cups, plates, toys and educational aids.

The cash also went towards batteries for toys that had been out of use for weeks as the home had no money to replace the batteries for them.

“Our donation has certainly been put to good use,”

Lauren added.

The South African home opened in 2000 to help babies abandoned in hospitals or left to die due to poverty and HIV. It is the third time Lauren has visited the home, based in Midrand, between Johannesburg and Pretoria.

Comments(9)

stour67 says...
4:08pm Mon 28 Jan 13

The flight probably cost more than the donation,and what about children over here first.

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stourport2012 says...
4:34pm Mon 28 Jan 13

This is exactly the reason I donate directly to charities. Just like children in need where half the money goes to help africa when there are many needy charities at home.

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Cynical Sid says...
9:18pm Mon 28 Jan 13

It’s very difficult to criticise any charity work but flying someone all the way to South Africa to donate £200 is unbelievable. Surely a nicely worded press blurb followed by a bank transfer would be more appropriate? I’m also guessing that there are many organisations in & around Bewdley who would be very grateful of such donation.

But hey ho ..good for the Rotary Club PR eh

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Hope Biggs says...
1:47am Tue 29 Jan 13

I know this girl personally and she has spent over a year volunteering at this home in the past 3 years and is at uni now. She was flying out there in her uni christmas holiday to give orphans with who have nothing a christmas with lots of love and fun with her own money. From what I have heard love and affection is what the children crave and means much more to them 'internet transfer'. Rotary contacted her with the donation when they found out she was going back, it was not the purpose of the trip!

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stour67 says...
1:47pm Tue 29 Jan 13

maybe that should have noted by the shuttle or told them by the rotary club

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stourport2012 says...
2:24pm Tue 29 Jan 13

yes this is not mentioned, still there are charities closer to home that need help.

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Hope Biggs says...
5:15pm Tue 29 Jan 13

she is doing more than what the majority of people her age do and you know nothing about her personal life and reasons. it is good to see youngsters in the paper for something positive for a change!

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GlenFiddick says...
7:04pm Tue 29 Jan 13

Did I not read in the Shuttle a while back that the Rotary had donated £600 to the cost of the trip. ?

And am I mistaken in reading that some of these young ladies are related to officials within the rotary club?

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Jerome K says...
8:23pm Tue 29 Jan 13

Some of the comments on here are so small minded it makes me ashamed to be from Wyre Forest. Well done Lauren.

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