Quote by jacktherev
Wow that's some statement FC from you. Would like to hear more.
Well we had one of the best package holidays we have ever had second only to our weddingmoon in Mauritius, after the disaster 4 years ago I have to say I was reluctant to go but once there it was a beautiful hotel with nothing that I could complain about. Being all-inclusive you can sometimes have a bit of a raw deal with the hotel skimping on various things, but not this one, the white wine was a South African chardonnay and red a Shiraz, beer and spirits fine also. The food was fantastic with loads of choice throughout the day and trust me I sampled all of it
Everything was perfect and if you want to look at the photos here is a link to them on dropbox.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hrucr2r9j86tffc/8ZaUV6HH4_
Now for the humbling bit! Angela during her research on the hotel read that local schools are very appreciative of books, pens etc as they dont have much in the way of money to buy these things, so she booked another bag onto the flights and filled a very large holdall with 15KG of exercise books, pens, pencils, crayons etc even a few bags of sweets to hand out. When we had been at the hotel for a few days we had made friends with one of the gardeners who got us our sunbeds and towels every morning so rather than take a preorganised tour to a school we asked him about a local one, I will take you he smilled so all arranged an on Monday morning we headed off on foot to his local nursery school. The way to it took us through the local market where the people were selling what they could in the way of food, spices clothes etc all for a few coins. And into the school we went.....
We met the headmaster just inside the gate and there seemed like thousands of children there and they were over us like a rash, he gave us a tour of the classes and this school has NOTHING and I mean nothing, only seats to sit on and a painted blackboard on the wall. He is operating with 162 children over 4 classes and including himself 3, yes 3 teachers. The kids have nothing to write on except the blackboard and they rhyme off their lessons, all in english. He tries to give them one meal a day as they may not get anything at home and on showing us the kitchen all it was was a room with 3 bricks on the floor and some burnt sticks which was obviously how they cooked, but there was no cooking that day as they had no rice to cook and no money to buy any. We were there for over two hours and I can honestly say that it took all of my strength not to burst into tears at not only how they are surviving but at what they are trying to acheive. The teachers get £22 per month in pay and they dont get paid every month. If you try talking to Angela about it she breaks down into tears. Here is a link to some of the pictures we took at the school.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8gp4pre6m2ejldc/CLfN1a4hYd
This is a short version of events that day but we have come home with a determination to try and help in any way we can by raising funds etc to help them exist and give the children a start in education.
I am open to suggestions as to how to raise money for them so if you want to give me ideas please do, we all have seen it on the various tv appeals etc but I can honestly say until you have seen it with your own eyes you do not appreciate it.
Would we go back, yes definitely it was a wonderful holiday and I don't recommend hotels etc very often but this is one I would as I am prepared to go back time and again.
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