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Friday
Jul092010

IRT at the British 10K this Sunday!

The big day has finally arrived (and we’re not talking about the World Cup Final): This Sunday, 18 dedicated supporters of IRT will be running the British 10K in London to raise money for our projects. They have all been very good at raising sponsorship money and getting fit and ready for the run. The race, which is in its tenth year, will start at 9.35 from Hyde Park Corner. We are very happy to announce that the runners will be wearing T-shirts featuring our brand new logo.

If you would like to come along it would be great to see you at our after-run drinks at Inn the Park in St. James’ Park.  We will all gather there around 11 am and enjoy some cold drinks and sunshine. And remember, there is plenty of time to go to both the Marathon and see the World Cup which starts at 7.30.

For more details please check the British 10 K website or out detailed earlier entry about IRT at the race.



by Christina zur Nedden

Thursday
Jul082010

IRT at the Chiswick Summer Fair

When?

Saturday, 10th of July

Where?                

Turnham Green in Chiswick, London (W4)

What time?

From 11 - 4

What is it about?

Chiswick Summer Fair is run by the local church Our Lady of Grace and St Edward and gives 100% of its profits to local charities. The event has been running in its current form for 5 years and has now distributed a total of £59,000 to local charities. Over 3000 people attended the Fair last year.

We will be there to sell our products from Wawoto Kacel Cooperative. A new delivery of colourful hand-made necklaces, bracelets and bags has just arrived. All of the proceeds will go towards IRT projects overseas. We will also promote the 2010 Barefoot Peace Walk, our event in September raising awareness about LRA violence.

If you fancy coming along you will get the chance to see other interesting exhibitors. You could check out Waitrose’s International Food Tent, test drive one of Volvo’s cars, join in a tennis competition, enjoy a massage in the Pamper Tent or have a drink in one of the various tents. Make sure to bring your kids along as there’s a Kids Corner running a ‘Science Fun Station’ and a bouncy castle.

Please check out the website for more information on the fair here

It would be great to see you there!

by Christina zur Nedden

Friday
Jun182010

IRT's visit to Uganda

IRT’s CEO, Adrian Hatch, just returned from a two-week trip to Uganda where he visited IRT projects and talked to people to see how else we can help in the region.

Redeemer Childrens’ HomeThe new piggery is doing well

One of IRT’s projects is the Moyo Redeemer Children’s Home (RCH). The Home now has several income generating projects: a poultry unit, a dairy, a grinding mill and a shop. Recently, a farm and a piggery were set up. The piggery has started very well and currently four sows have between them forty-five piglets. Feeds are produced by Sr. Pasqua on the farm which works out 50% cheaper than buying readymade.

The farm is located 20 minutes from the Home in a particularly fertile valley. It consists of 30 acres which were cultivated with beans, maize, simsim, groundnuts, cassava and onions last year. Although bean and groundnut yields were modest due to rainfall, cassava is doing very well and is mature enough to survive prolonged drought conditions.

To further support the RCH, IRT will provide funds for six oxen, ploughs, supplementary seeds, training and drugs. IRT is also negotiating to supply the dairy project with another bull and to install a solar system for the borehole in order to reduce energy costs. To improve accountant systems and train staff at both the RCH and another of IRT’s projects, the Moyo Babies Home, IRT will send an Accountant volunteer to Moyo in September. Furthermore, it is planned to purchase two laptops together with printers for each Home.

The Comboni Samaritans of Gulu project ‘Access to Quality Education’Children in front of the new classrooms at Pawel Ayiga

The ‘Access to Quality Education’ project has come a long way. When visiting Pawel Ayiga school in March 2009, Adrian found only one old classroom and no people living in the area. Now, he was proud to officially open one block of three classrooms. Work has just started on another two blocks of classrooms and teachers accommodation. The area is now livelier with many households being re-established around the school.  IRT also agreed with local authorities to support the construction of classrooms and teachers accommodation at Orapwoyo primary school this year.

The project includes six schools which all run two income generating projects: Tree Nurseries and Bee Hives. Each of the six schools produced pine tree seedlings both for sale and also for planting of woodlots for the respective school. They raised considerable money through sale and planted over 3,000 seedlings themselves. Furthermore, a total of 35 bee hives at the six schools have been successfully colonised. Harvesting will begin in August this year.  

The Gulu and Amuru District ox ploughing projectFully trained and matured oxen working in Olwal zone

Adrian was particularly pleased with the performance of this project. Launched in 2007, the project targets 4 zones comprising 44 groups of nine families in total. Each group of nine families has one pair of oxen and a plough. In 2009, three of the four zones produced the impressive amount of 44.2 metric tonnes of food. This food comprised beans, maize, millet and groundnuts. In 2010, those three zones have ploughed and planted 729 acres. This equates to approximately three acres per family.  The fourth zone was established more recently and has ploughed around 153 acres (one acre per family as the oxen are still immature).

To sustain this successful project, IRT is planning to build storage buildings in each zone. The stores would allow groups to store their surplus produce (that which is not consumed by the families) until the best price can be obtained for it. Secondly, IRT would like to provide two ox carts per zone to move surplus produce to the storage buildings.  

All in all, Adrian was pleased with the progress made by IRT projects in the region. Yet, there is still more to be done. We will keep you updated about how things go.   

by Christina zur Nedden

Tuesday
Jun152010

Refugee Week 2010

Refugee Week is a unique opportunity to discover and celebrate the contributions refugees bring to the UK.

During Refugee Week loads of events take place all across the UK, all of which explore refugee experiences. Whatever you’re into - whether its arts, music, food or just meeting people in your local area - Refugee Week will have an event for you.

This year, they are asking everyone to do a Simple Act. By doing one small, everyday action that can change perceptions of refugees we can help create a society we all want to live in. Refugee Week aims to reach 20'000 Simple Acts completed by World Refugee Day, 20th June.

For more information, have a look at the official Refugee Week website.

Saturday
Jun052010

IRT at the Turnham Green Peace Market

When? 

TODAY!!! June 5th 2010

Where?

Turnham Green in Chiswick, London (W4)

What time?

10:00 - 16:00

And why?

We're joining other charities such as Stop the War Coalition to promote peace all over the world. As you may already know, IRT's specific focus is campaigning against the violence caused by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in Central Africa.

We will be promoting the 2010 Barefoot Peace Walk, our event in September which protests against LRA violence.

We will also be selling our products from Wawoto Kacel Cooperative.

The proceeds go towards IRT's projects overseas.

If you're around and want to come say hi on this lovely sunny day, do pop by! There'll be lots of fun stalls with things to buy and many interesting people to talk to from all sorts of charities and campaigning organisations!