Saturday 20th February, Ngala in Malawi & Suffolk in UK

Dear all
I am back in sunny Suffolk, except it isn't very sunny and it is very cold compared with just over a week ago.
I have been battling with admin crises for nearly two weeks now. The Malawi banking system has conspired to make life impossible and generally things are only now ready to rock again. The new rock drill bit and bailer (gets rid of the scarf and bits of rock from the bottom of the drill hole) are now ready to start work again tomorrow.


The original borehole number one has been reamed out to 120mm diameter ready to take the rock drill and in between times another dried up and defunct borehole for a remote village school is being repaired.



The broadband here is a bit faster than in Malawi so I am also sending two videos under separate cover, the first is the women singing at the clinic where I put in water last year, the next is Isaac's team working on the borehole in Jiusa's village. Bear in mind that even on a cloudy day it is about 35 degrees centigrade and very high humidity.

Some very kind people had asked me if they can donate to help the project. I have never asked for money before but I know I can't fund everything needed here myself. I am hoping in a year or so to have enough evidence to go to the United Nations Glibal Interventions Fund and ask for serious money, the minimum they will consider is $50,000 but the process will probably take the best part of two years. In the meantime, for those who have already said so ,and  for anyone else who would also like to donate here is how to do so and get the extra 25% gift aid:

Go to the Malawi Education Link web site, link below
http://www.malawieducationlink.co.uk/contribute.html
Scroll down until you see the big MYDONATE button as below




This takes you to the donation site which is hosted free of charge by BT and where you can tick the box to gift aid it. I should get informed about every donation so I can thank you and let you know which village it will be going to.

For Those kind people who have already sent me money I will send the money through the same process to get the gift aid and let you know how it's going to be used.

If anyone wants to donate from overseas then you can send the money to my personal  UK Malawi Account at TSB Bank, IBAN IS: GB66LOYD30932219600268, Account Holder Edward Crampton, please mark for reference MEL

We already have more than enough given and pledged to do the third village. I will ask Arthur to go there once the first pilot village is completed , show photos to the villagers and explain what is happening and hopefully when and ask him to take some to send to you.

A record of all donations received and which village is benefitting will be available on the Internet.

Thank you for listening, I plan to send an update each week now and fingers crossed we can get the first pilot village finished soon.

Best wishes
Ted