Writes Richard Waddington, Assistant Head (Pastoral & Wellbeing)
Merchant Taylors’ Prep Summer Term School Charity is Jinja Educational Trust (JET), which links us with partner schools in Jinja, Uganda.
We have a long tradition of supporting JET here at Taylors’, and several members of staff have been to Jinja, near Lake Victoria, to offer training, skills and insights, as well as learning a great deal themselves. Mr Chester, our Head Master, will be visiting Jinja this summer.
Prep families were invited to join us for a bring-your-own-picnic on the School Field, followed by the opportunity to take part in a sponsored walk of up to 6km around a lake of the Merchant Taylors’ School site, getting there through our own tunnel under the Metropolitan Line.
Why 6km? This is the average distance that rural children in Uganda walk to their schools every day to access their education. Walking this distance helped our boys to empathise with children their own age in challenging circumstances. Raising sponsorship themselves from family and friends they know in person also gave them a sense of achievement.
The event took place in glorious sunshine, and it was a pleasure for me to get to know many new faces, as well as share something of the history of the Merchant Taylors’ Prep and Senior sites.
The day raised over £500, and we are looking forward to making it an even bigger event next year!
JET’s Acting CEO, Ezra Muyinda, visited us last week, and he was delighted to hear of our families and staff showing solidarity with JET’s pupils. He was very grateful for the money raised too.
Finally, in the run-up to the end of the Summer Term, we are running two more collections. Colleagues going to Uganda in July are taking black shoes and stationery with them. (Many of the children who walk to school in Uganda do so barefoot.)
If you are able, please donate black shoes in the labelled black bin by the entrance to the School Office. There is also a WisePay set up for financial contributions for the team going to buy stationery.
Thank you so much!
