A WODONGA woman is raising money to put African orphans through school.
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A former travel agent who runs her own horticultural business, Libby Frankel said children in Malawi thought of school as a privilege and a chance at a better life.
Ms Frankel said African public schools still had some fees and uniform standards were surprisingly strict.
“The kids need to have the exact uniform to go to school,” she said.
“If they’re wearing the wrong blue stripe on their school shirt they’re sent home.”
Having travelled to Africa for the first time a decade ago, Ms Frankel was touched by the work of the Tawonga Community Based Orphanage – “tawonga” means welcome in the local language.
“It was run by a local couple and the husband was making a pittance working as a teacher,” she said.
“He was putting all of his money back into keeping the centre going.”
Soon after Ms Frankel started Tawonga Community Based Orphanage Inc, which raised $15,000 to buy goods and build goat and chicken houses in the village, 350 kilometres north of the Malawi capital Lilongwe.
Ms Frankel and other volunteers spent two months in the community sharing skills such as sewing and horticulture seven years ago.
“We bought them Singer sewing machines because that’s what the local ladies wanted,” she said.
“We showed them how to use them and hired a local tailor to keep helping them after we left.”
Ms Frankel will return to the village for three weeks from mid-August with Border women Glen Modra and Marg Tanner.
She said they would hand over money for school fees and uniforms this time.
“I absolutely cannot wait,” Ms Frankel said.
“I know what barriers I can come up against in Africa this time but I also know there will be joy in seeing how the kids have developed in seven years.
“I have printed off photos I took of them last time for them to keep.”
Tawonga Community Based Orphanage Inc will present Viceroy’s House at Regent Cinemas Albury on Sunday at 4pm.
All money raised will go towards school fees and uniforms.
For bookings phone Libby on 0438 469 630 or Penny Vine on 0407 268 121.
To donate to Tawonga Community Based Orphanage contact Libby.