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International Women's Day is today!
Thursday, March 03 2012

Today in the PEAS office we are celebrating International Women’s Day. In Uganda the national average for female pupils in secondary school is 21% which clearly demonstrates a gender inequality in schools. One of our strategic visions is to have at least 50% of places in our schools reserved and taken up by girls.

To mark the occasion we are blogging with two stories from Zaharah and Aska, two girls who have felt the impact of a quality, affordable secondary education in Uganda and Zambia:

Zaharah Nankya

Zaharah is a student at Onwards and Upwards secondary school in Uganda and comes from a village called Nabukalu, an hours motor bike ride away form the school. Zaharah is a boarding student which eliminates the dangers she faced on the long journey to school before she started boarding. “Previously when I was a day student, I got worried about being bothered by men on the way to school. I am very worried about becoming pregnant because I believe that my studies are the most important thing I have and I want to complete my education.”

Zaharah’s favourite subject at school is learning to speak English. She told us that she loves to find out about new things generally and hopes that her education will enable her to get a good job in the end. She would love to become a nurse or a doctor because she would like to make people feel better. “I want to learn so that I can get a job in the future and I believe this will give me freedom and will mean I can help my Father to support the education of my siblings.”

Aska Kasongo

Aska is a student from George Secondary School in Zambia. Aska enjoys studying and wants to become an accountant as she enjoys maths. Aska attends George secondary school because of its close location to her home. “I would have gone to Kansenshi High School, but my parents would not have been able to manage the fees and the transport costs because it is far. Here we can just walk.

Many children face the school day without food but at George Secondary School lunch is provided which for many is the only meal of the day. Aska feels that “The best thing about the school is that we get given lunch and we don’t have to pay extra for it”

To support PEAS to create 50,000 sustainable places in girl's education, donate today.
 

International Women's Day
Wednesday, March 03 2012

Tomorrow, 8th March, is the 101st International Women's Day.

It's an important day, a reminder that the battle for gender equality is far from won. In many developed and countries, huge steps have been made in the past century. However in many of the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa, even the most basic social and legal barriers against gender equality are still in place. Women play a huge part in the economy, yet they have little control over property. In the home, legal rights side with the husband, even though some studies say over half of women in the country have suffered from domestic violence. Estimates say that this oppression is stunting GDP growth by 2%, hampering Uganda efforts to break out of the cycle of poverty.

What is your education message?
Thursday, September 09 2011

The Guardian Global Development website have set up a Flickr group to collect messages and pictures from projects and countries across the world that tell a story about education around the world. At PEAS we are passionate about what education can do for an individual and a community, so we decided to get snapping. You can visit our Flickr page to see what we have added, and even write your own if you like - just follow the instructions on the link above!

GiveaCar! – Donate your scrap car and raise money for PEAS
Wednesday, June 06 2011

Do you own an old car that you have been meaning to get rid of for a while? Instead of having it gather dust in the garage or take up space in the driveway, let it do its bit for PEAS!

PEAS has teamed up with Giveacar, a UK based fundraising organisation that specialises in donating unwanted and scrap cars to charitable causes throughout the world. They provide a FREE service which is available throughout the UK, and can work with you hand-in-hand in the following ways:

 

  • By arranging the collection of the vehicle;

  • By either sending it for environmentally safe disposal and recycling at an Authorised Treatment Facility, or to a salvage auction (depending on the age and the condition of the vehicle);

This means that a large portion of the proceeds are donated to a nominated charity of the vehicle owner’s choice.
Giveacar has already raised over £350,000 for over 250 charities since it was foundation in 2010!
Every car has some value – recycle your car in an environmentally friendly way (at no cost to you) and help further access to education through your donation!

To arrange collection of a car for the benefit of PEAS, you can:

  • Visit Giveacar.co.uk or call 020 0011 1664, quoting PEAS as your preferred charity; or
  • Fill in Giveacar’s online donation form

A collection agent will arrange a convenient time for vehicle collection within 7 days of your initial inquiry
Donate: Depending on a vehicle's state of repair, it will either be sold at auction or disposed of at an Authorised Treatment Facility. Giveacar receives payment after the sale or disposal. They then make a donation to your chosen charity and you will be sent a receipt from both Giveacar and the charity.

There are lots of ways you can donate to or raise money for PEAS – find out more in our donate pages.
 

Spotlight on Oakam
Wednesday, June 06 2011

Oakam, the London-based financial services company has been a wonderful example of how corporate engagement with PEAS can make for a rewarding and enjoyable relationship.

Oakam staff have helped us through a number of activities such as encouraging businesses in central London to place PEAS collection tins in their stores, sending a walking team along to this year's Bridges to Africa, sponsoring t-shirts for Bridges link teachers and stewards and just last weekend pledging to raise £2000 by taking part in the Great Kent Bike Ride.

Samantha Johnson from Oakam explains how PEAS has helped the business both internally and externally:

At Oakam, working with PEAS is more than just fundraising but an opportunity to bring our staff together from different departments. We chose PEAS as we have both customers and staff who are originally from Africa and we wanted to support something close to their hearts.”

Oakam employees donned their cycling gear to cycle 60 miles for PEAS on Sunday 12th June, with more employees getting back on their bikes to cycle an impressive 100m at the Wessex bike ride in September.

Here at PEAS, we have been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of Oakam employees and look forward to continuing our relationship long into the future. For more information about Oakam, please click here.

PEAS at Magic Loungeabout..
Friday, June 06 2011

We are looking for volunteers this summer to represent PEAS at the Magic Loungeabout festival in Yorkshire. The lovely people at the Magic Loungeabout are letting PEAS join them at the festival on 29th/30th/31st July to spread the word about our SmartAid model and our plans for the future.
The Magic Loungeabout is a distinctive music and arts festival celebrating national and international musical talent with a focus on local and regional culture, art and cuisine. Their line up is the biggest of any privately owned festival in Yorkshire and entertainment includes a HD cinema showing cult classics and thought provoking documentaries, an inspiring speaker’s tent, a fun adult games area, cutting edge video projections, walk about art, VIP day tent packages with waiter service and and on site restaurants. In their words, it is 'musical glamping at its finest'!
This is a great opportunity for PEAS to get the word out about SmartAid, so if you like music, and love PEAS, this should be the perfect weekend! For more information about the festival, see a video about the festival, or visit their website. If you would like to volunteer, email Abigail at abigail.colley@peas.org.uk.

Bridges to Africa takes London by storm!
Tuesday, May 05 2011

On Sunday 15th May, 1000 secondary school students and 200 of their teachers walked ‘Bridges to Africa’, a 10k sponsored walk through the capital city to support PEAS.
Uxbridge High, London Academy and Forest School were among the 44 state schools from across London that pulled on their walking boots and took to the streets, armed with banners, Ugandan flags, green face paint, and even the odd pea costume! After a big warm-up in Vauxhall Spring Gardens, school groups crossed the 10 bridges between Vauxhall and Tower Bridge, enjoying the sights of central London, and getting stickers as they crossed every bridge.
Some of our highlights included one pair of students from Ellen Wilkinson Girls School walking the entire 10k three-legged, and a very determined miniature sausage dog walking with Morpeth School!

Charlotte Tibbs from Feltham Community College cited just how much her students and fellow teachers enjoyed the walk, and said ‘they're already asking when they can sign up for next year!’

This year the 1000 students walking Bridges to Africa aim to fundraise £50,000 for the UK charity PEAS – almost half the amount needed to launch a sustainable secondary school in Uganda.Now in its 6th year, ‘Bridges to Africa’ has previously attracted considerable press attention, as well as the attendance of former PM Gordon Brown and presenter Jon Snow, who said ‘PEAS is not just talking about co-operation and development, it is DOING it’. With record numbers of schools walking across London this year, Bridges to Africa 2011 is set to be the biggest walk yet!

One of our teachers waxes lyrical about Hibiscus High School...
Friday, March 03 2011

The PEAS Uganda team have been busy this week holding wonderful opening ceremonies to get our new school launched. Here is a poem that was read out at the Hibiscus opening ceremony, written by a teacher and performed by four students.
 
The Awaited School
By Miegabi Philip Edgar (English teacher at Hibiscus High School)
 
It’s a new school in a new year
Everyone waited to see
To see what the days would bring
When the bells would ring
Where the sounds would lead!
 
Many people questioned them
What a unique school name
Is it a building, a city or street
They answered a beautiful plant
A plant with a beautiful flower – a symbol of brightness
Eh! The people of Hibiscus High School shall be bright!
 
Our colours make you shine
White, green, grey and orange shall shine
Like the sun shines on those who wish to shine
The rays of the colours shall go beyond
Thus the beauty of Hibiscus High School shall shine!
 
Ah! Your preaching calls for all
That equality and quality must be for all
The parents say, there is a voice calling
Children have answered the call
Oh! It must be a call for all
Thus, Hibiscus High School shall be a song for all!
 
They said, it was by PEAS
Others asked, why not the beans
Many asked, why not the maize
But when the days came to phrase
The students at Hibiscus High School were many like PEAS!

3 mountains in 24 hours? Easy peasy....
Thursday, February 02 2011

Are you someone who likes a challenge? Have you ever thought about climbing the three highest mountains in the UK in 24hrs?

 

The COINS 3 Peaks Challenge is the Construction and related services Industry’s largest fundraising event, as well as being a fun teambuilding event that really brings people and the industry together. The challenge is to reach the highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales in 24 hours, and we are putting a PEAS team up for the event! We will need a team of four walkers to conquer Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon, and two support crew to take on the driving.

Not for the faint hearted, the Three Peaks Challenge is a fantastic experience, and this is a unique opportunity to take part for PEAS - maybe you want to take a group of friends, housemates or work colleagues along to tackle the challenge together.

To find out more about the challenge visit the COINS website at www.coins3peakschallenge, where you can watch COINS 3 Peaks video from last year’s event or have a look at COINS 3 Peaks brochure which lets you know what’s involved. Sponsorship raised from the event will help build and develop more sustainable schools in Uganda and Zambia.

For more information, and how to register, contact Abigail at abigail.colley@peas.org.uk, or call us on 02031171918.

Exciting opportunities for Teach First Participants
Tuesday, February 02 2011

Are you a Teach First participant in your 2nd Year or an ambassador?

PEAS has three incredible opportunities as Education Consultants to play a key role in founding and developing new low-fee secondary schools in Uganda and Zambia. The successful candidates will work with the local PEAS team in Uganda/Zambia, the UK fundraising team and a wide range of school leaders, teachers, community members and local authorities to help launch a new school. Each PEAS school will grow to provide sustainable, low-fee yet high quality education to 1000 young Africans.

This is a 12 month funded volunteer placement, exclusive to Teach First, with flights and all reasonable living expenses covered.

To apply please email PEAS at john.rendel@peas.org.uk for a full job specification and application procedure. The closing date is Friday 18th March 2011.