A committee of Edinburgh women are holding a Ceilidh for South Sudan at Stockbridge House, Edinburgh on Saturday the 7th October 2017 to raise funds to help young refugees in South Sudan, who are affected by Africa’s longest-running civil war, access education.
The fundraiser supports MADEF Kenya, a self-help group of young volunteer South Sudanese refugees. Founded by a group of South Sudanese refugees, including current Director Mike Riek Buom, MADEF Kenya run a number of educational programmes in Kakuma Refugee Camp. All funds raised from the Ceilidh for South Sudan go towards MADEF Kenya’s tuition programmes, solar lighting initiatives, a library project, as well as a women’s project; and sponsors are sought for individual school children, costing £140 per year for full sponsorship, or £70 per year for shared sponsorship.
Local businesswoman Sheila Dhariwal said: “Nine years ago I had the chance to sponsor and meet Mike, an unaccompanied minor who’d been alone in a refugee camp from the age of twelve. His courage and determination to get an education was totally inspiring. His dream was to be a doctor. He will sit his finals next year, qualifying in medicine and surgery – an incredible achievement. But Mike (above) has not forgotten what it was like to be a child alone in a refugee camp – he’s spearheaded MADEF, helping hundreds of other refugee children just like him and helping to keep hope alive.”
MADEF was born when the founders originally came together and went without lunch to help a fellow refugee who had no money to go to school. The first Ceilidh for South Sudan was held in 2010 to raise funds to help one student, Ben, attend college. “He went on to complete a business management degree and has now bravely returned to his war-torn country to support his whole extended family and helping his people, who are facing the ravages of war, by working for an international aid agency.”
“The women’s group provides basic education classes for mothers and, for the first time, five women reached the educational level to be admitted into school in the refugee camp – this is a truly amazing and life-changing achievement. The team have also started sewing classes and we are about to embark on an income generating project. The sewing classes have been so successful that some men have asked to join them!”
The event has grown year-on-year, with 22 primary and 2 secondary pupils sponsored in 2016. The solar lighting initiative is helping over 1,500 children who are now able to read and study at night. The children receiving sponsorship are able to greatly improve their grades and have a higher chance of scholarship to a Kenyan secondary school. This is the most ambitious ceilidh fundraiser to date, with sponsorships sought for both primary and secondary school students.
Ceilidh for Education for South Sudan
7th October 2017,
7pm at Stockbridge House
2 Cheyne Street, EH4 1JB
Tickets £15 adults / £5 children and includes dinner
Available on Eventbrite, on the door or from Galerie Mirages, 46A Raeburn Pl, Edinburgh EH4 1HL; 0131 315 2603
The event includes:
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Ceilidh, with live music & direction from Carrie on Dancing
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Curries by a guest chef from Punjabi Junction Cafe and donated desserts and cakes
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Tombola (tickets £1) and Raffle (tickets £1) with prizes including designer jewellery from Galerie Mirages and donations from local people and business owners
Annual sponsorships are sought for several children (£140 full / £70 shared)
Raffle & Tombola donations: Please hand in to Galerie Mirages, 46A Raeburn Pl, Edinburgh EH4 1HL.
Contact: Sheila Dhariwal: dhariwal_gm@hotmail.co.uk
Ceilidh for Education for South Sudan Facebook page
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