July 2016

Stima with Jo Smith in Nailsworth

Members, sponsors and supporters of the Link were thrilled that Stima, the Link’s representative in Nkokoto and Urambo, was able to spend ten days with us in Minchinhampton and Woodchester last month. Readers will remember that the cost of Stima’s visit was covered by donations from supporters of the Link and for this we are very grateful indeed. Stima travelled by bus from Urambo to Dar es Salaam, an 18 hour journey, then flew by Kenya Airways to Heathrow where Rod met him on May 9th.
During Stima’s visit, he met many of the Link Committee, visiting their homes, sharing meals with them and being taken out to various places in Stroud and the Cotswolds. My thanks to all the members of the committee who gave their time to do this, and I know that Stima thoroughly enjoyed his time with everyone. He also visited Stroud High School for Girls and spent a valuable and fascinating afternoon with the children in Minchinhampton School. His time with Rod began each morning with walking our dog on Selsley Common. Stima enjoyed the walks but was quite fearful of Kiri, our flatcoat retriever,(one of the softest, most friendly dogs you could find anywhere!) He also thoroughly enjoyed the visit to the Nailsworth Festival, to a musical evening, a tour of the Cotswolds, a day in Gloucester Docks and the cathedral, and (of course, the obligatory) visit (?!) to the Glos/Warks Steam Railway for a trip on the steam train.

A most successful afternoon was held at Minchinhampton Church Porch Room where many of the Link’s supporters and sponsors came to meet Stima and to receive his greetings from the villagers in Nkokoto and to ask him questions. Thank you to everyone who came, and to the committee members who arranged the cakes and tea. As well as enjoying his time in our beautiful part of the Cotswolds, his visit gave us the opportunity to evaluate past projects and to focus on our next projects for 2016 and beyond. Stima is confident that, with the support of a local magistrate in Urambo and the local council, we will be able develop a microfinance scheme where Nkokoto villagers will be able to borrow small amounts of money interest free from the Link to set up small scale businesses from which they will have an income and improved life in the village. Also, we have agreed with Stima that we should support the school with more teaching materials, books and educational equipment and give Nkokoto Clinic and the clinician a greater amount of support in the form of medical equipment and materials. So we will have a three pronged approach for the next 12 months.
The Link Fashion Show on May 18th organised in collaboration with Stafford Cottage was a success and an interesting evening for Stima, who had never before experienced one of our fund raising events nor even a fashion show, (fashion shows are not a regular event in Nkokoto!!) Thank you to all our supporters to came to this event, thank you to Ruth Morris and her team, and to all the volunteer models who worked so hard to make the show so appealing.
Now that we have all the details of the Nkokoto students who have newly started at the Folk Development College and at Vumilia Secondary School we are looking for new sponsors for two or three students who at the moment have no sponsors. If any readers feel able to sponsor a student, it costs £60 a year, please do get in touch with me. Contact details below
Rod Harris, Chairman
01453 872317 or 0777 565 2379 or email
Charity reg no 207308