Introducing our 2012 Project - Bozalan School

[bewva]

I don't mind people knowing whether I donated, I never requested anominity (spelling?). But when you look at the list there is only a couple of grands worth of kit there. Some people have been very generous and donated about 5-10% of that. I would have liked to have thought that after a week Keith you would have been reporting that all items were ticked off and we were now ticking off on the 'nice to have' list as the 'basic essentials list' was fully subscribed. I could understand it if you launched it in children in need week or something similar. It takes all sort I suppose.

[Scunner]

Mr bewva you make some interesting points (sometimes interesting = correct but I couldn't possibly say where). There is only a "couple of grand" there as you put it but we can only be grateful for those who want to give a little back for what CBF but more importantly Calis, Fethiye and Turkey has given them over the last decade or two of their life - which in many cases is a hell of a lot. I am so chuffed to see a £2 donation come in because someone cared enough to go to Paypal and show that children learning in the conditions we highlighted is simply unacceptable while we are more occupied by telling all the other CBF members of the scandal that the T bone steak at *wherever* has gone up a quid to 28 lira, or similar. Just to quantify that, 28 lira is enough to provide slippers for 6 kids for a year to stop them having to spend every school day walking around on mountain-cold concrete floors. So yes, it is not without frustration this...

It does "take all sorts" to quote you again Paul and we can look at the disappointments but you will go mad doing that, I promise. I'd love to reply to every cheap plug for some local transfer company or hotel with a "yes but they didn't help us when we needed them" graphic - I would literally love to, it would be great - but who cares really. I learned to concentrate on the positives in life and my inbox is full of them right now. I wish everyone could see the comments and selflessness that I can. That'll do for me and I'm sure that will do for the kids at Bozalan. One thing I do think is that everyone should not only get involved in fund raising, but also try and get the opportunity to visit some of these schools. It is both shocking and intoxicating - once you see what difference your (fairly meagre in the big scheme of things) efforts made for all these little guys, you are hooked. We just need more people to get hooked I suppose  

One last comment for those still reading - bewva (Paul) sounds very tough and uncompromising - but actually it was a conversation between him and I that started all this. If we don't make all our targets and buy everything on the list, blame Paul..!

[Anne]

Brilliant guys, keep those donations coming.  It's heartening to read that after a slow start we're on our way to ticking off the whole list.
I love the idea of a day helping labour wise too and would be more than happy to help out if needed during our May trip.

[Anne]

I've been thinking about this since my last post.
If the transfer companies were willing to donate a free trip there and back (or perhaps charge only for petrol) in one of their bigger mini buses I'm sure there would be more offers of help.  Just think of what could be achieved in a couple of visits with plenty of man power.

[Pi55y]

The 3C's had a really great sell out "Rockney" night at the Nil Restaurant this evening where we have been raising money to fund  future children's projects (final sum from this event still to be worked out).

But the highlight of the evening, which bought many of the committee near to tears,  was when five individuals, all who wish to remain anonymous, came up and gave us 100 TL each for the Bozalan project -  amazing - so another 500 TL to add to the running CBF total.

[Scunner]

Amazing stuff, email me and tell me who it was - thank you to those five people, a fantastic thing to do.

[Pi55y]

Keith, three of the donations came from people we did not know who are only visiting Calis - how kind is that? They heard us talking about the Bozalan project and the next thing we knew donations were being made.

[Anne]

That's heart warming, well done them.  It's just a pity the majority of our members aren't in the same frame of mind.

[Scunner]

But on a positive note Anne, those who are have been incredibly generous.

[Scunner]

God bless that less than half a percent of members or we'd be looking pretty rubbish right now