The Bridge Built With Cakes . . . (our 2011 charity project)
One of our son's friends from church, Neil Longwe, recently returned from a visit to an area of Malawi from where his family originally came to Scotland. Working with Scottish charity "The Raven Trust", Neil applied his surveying skills during his trip to help find real solutions for people and communities in desperate need.
On his return to Scotland, Neil presented a video and slide show at our local church - showing some the people and families he met (including his own), the problems they face and the work The Raven Trust are involved in. It was a genuinely humbling experience and we were left in no doubt that this was something we could - and should - be helping with.
There are many charities, churches and organisations working with Africa's poorest and the largest like Oxfam, UNICEF, Save The Children and Comic Relief (among others) oversea huge operations wich help millions of people. The scale of the work is staggering but allows space for smaller, specialised charities to also play an important role. Named after the "intelligent scavenger", the Raven Trust works with communities that have specific needs: repairing and maintaining hospital equipment, providing medical supplies, running an eye clinic, rebuilding the Lake Malawi hospital boat, repairing roads and bridges to improve the transport infrastructure - so essential for getting aid to where it is needed the most. The Raven Trust also sends shipments of medical supplies and other essential items to Malawi on a regular basis.
This smaller-scale work is incredibly effective and transforms the lives of entire communities. It's easy to become so overwhelmed by the massive problems in Africa that you begin to doubt if any help is really possible, but by focusing on small projects the Raven Trust works away, month after month, away from the headlines and publicity, making a real difference. We like that!
Neil reported that on one of his field trips they came across a bridge on the Thukutu River which was just about usable during the dry season - if you were young and fit and didn't have to carry anything! It is, as you can see, incredibly rickety and dangerous. This "bridge" reminds me of something from the Commando Training Centre in Lympstone - I can't imagine how old people, the sick or young children are supposed to cross it!
During the wet season (which lasts for months) the bridge is totally useless, so the Chibalazi community of around 300 families is cut off entirely. If anyone needs medical treatment then too bad - they won't get it. Children cannot get to school, mothers cannot get their children to clinics, farmers cannot get to market; food and supplies run out.
The Raven Trust want to replace this bridge with a road-and-bridge which will allow year-round road access for these families. The Trust uses local villagers to provide most of the labour . . . so it's not about simple hand-outs, it's about getting communities working to help themselves too. Real solutions. Cake Stuff Ltd want to support by paying for as much of this project as we possibly can.
The project got underway by October 2011 and was completed in November 2011. We'd like to say "thank you" . . . because even although you didn't realise it, your orders will help pay for a new bridge . . . a bridge built with cakes.
We're not trying to be self-righteous, but we're sometimes slightly suspicious of companies who make a big thing of their chartitable activities. We're not using this project as a way to advertise, or to improve our public image, and we certainly don't want to use it as a way to attract extra sales - we simply want to help The Raven Trust complete a project which will change the lives of thousands over the coming years, and could save the lives of many people.
For more information on the work of The Raven Trust please click here.
.
.
LATEST NEWS . . .
November 2011 and the new bridge has been officially opened by local tribal elders and John Challis, the Raven Trust's man-in-the-field who oversaw the building work. The riverbed may look like a sandy beach right now but within a couple of weeks the annual rains will arrive and this bridge will be a genuine lifeline for the entire community.
On behalf of John, Neil and the people of the Chibalazi community on the Thukutu river in Malawi, a heartfelt "thank you" for all your support.
Please pass on our thanks to your own customers, family and friends . . . in fact whoever was responsible for you having to make cakes and buy your "stuff" from us. Who would have thought that making cakes would make such a huge difference to the lives of over 300 families?
Your cakes have saved lives . . . that's quite a thought, isn't it?
