WaterAid

As it is said in the famous song "Do they know it's Christmas', the greatest gift you can give is life. Which is exactly what five young girls from Ellesmere College have done.

Skye Higgin from Malpas, Stephanie Perrin from Shrewsbury, Maxine Fennell from Cheshire, Ruth Wilding Jones from and Diana Swainbank, all 14 years of age, decided to support a charity when a teacher at the College suggested it.

The girls used their ingenuity and browsed the Internet looking for a cause that they felt they could help more effectively and immediately. It was here that they found out about WaterAid. WaterAid is the UK's only major charity dedicated exclusively to the provision of safe domestic water, sanitation and hygiene education to the world's poorest people.

The girls then set to work on their fundraising campaign, and it was decided that they could raise money by holding a one-day fair. So they booked a hall in Malpas, and enlisted the help of family and friends with making handicraft items such as cakes, and greeting cards for them to sell. They also collected items to be used in a jumble sale and tombola. During the day they raised extra by having tea and coffee.

In total they raised nearly £500, which is enough to provide a new well for a village. All the five girls deserve a big pat on the back for seeing through this project. It is a great reflection of their characters, that they wanted to be as proactive and effective. Skye Higgin said “It gives a new meaning to have a drink at Christmas, hopefully lots of people will benefit from this well, and it will save many lives”

13th December 2002  Back to News