| Beaumont electrician set for Lesotho challenge |
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| Thursday, 31 July 2008 | |
 A NORTHSIDE man is giving up two weeks of his time to travel to Africa to help build a new school.John Gough, from Beaumont, will be travelling to Lesotho along with 49 other Irish people, as part of the Lesotho Build Project Challenge. The landlocked Kingdom of Lesotho is rated as one of the six poorest nations in the world. Approximately, 30 per cent of its 2.3 million population are currently suffering from HIV/AIDS. The Lesotho Build Project will be bringing skilled tradespeople to help build and furnish schools, medical centres and safe houses, allowing some of the country’s 180,000 orphans to work to rebuild their communities. John is hoping to use his skills as an electrician to help change the lives of Lesothan people for the better. “When I see the work done by people like Bono and Bob Geldof, it makes me wonder what an ordinary working class chap like myself can do,” he told Northside People. “I realised that I have a practical skill as an electrician that I can share and so do most workers. “I’m looking forward to working with the locals to build a new school over there in October.” John and his group will also be bringing a 40-foot container filled with clothing, footwear, toys, bedding, school supplies and medicine to distribute to local people. The project will take place from October 9-26 and will consist of two phases. Phase one will see two classrooms built, two toilets furnished and the medical centre fully equipped. In phase two, 60 participants will visit Mafetang to build a safe house and provide a play area for children from local communities. John needs to raise e5,000 for his trip and is hoping to get the backing of local businesses in the area. “The money covers my costs and goes towards the cost of the building project,” he added. “I hope to raise most of it over the next few months through sponsorship. “It’s going to be an interesting journey. Temperatures at night can drop to as low as minus 20 degrees with 40 degree heat during the day.” Colette O’Sullivan and Helen O’Malley, who saw first hand the appalling conditions endured by children while on a charity trek in the mountains of Lesotho, initiated the project. The women founded the ACARA Lesotho Build Project and adopted a five-year plan to assist in providing safety and education for Lesotho children through delivering some of life’s basic necessities. Mannete Ramaili, the Lesotho Ambassador, has given his backing to the initiative “We want to try to keep these orphaned children within their communities rather than institutionalising them,” he said. “The halfway homes will provide a safe place for these children and enable them to attend their local school, learn life skills to help them cope with their situation, and lead a normal life like every child in that area.” l If anyone is interested in helping John Gough to raise funds for his involvement in the Lesotho Build Project Challenge, they can contact him on 086-8728493. |
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I have no sympathy for him. If he wants to own a dog, ...
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Developed by Kevin Flynn