Annette Nelson, Laura Carlin, Nicola McCann and John Boyle from Apex Housing accepting a cheque for £500 from pupils at St. John's Primary School, the proceeds of a Halloween disco held to raise funds for the Apex with Children in Crossfire towards projects in Tanzania. Included are pupils representing the school council, Maeve Mellon, RE coordinator, Jo Boyle, school council and Geraldine O’Connor, principal.

Apex gives St. John’s Primary School CRED Ability

18 January 2016 by Ronan McLaughlin

In September 2015 Apex employees in association with Children in Crossfire travelled to Miwaleni, in Northern Tanzania to inspect recent renovations to the Miwaleni Primary School and view the newly constructed Early Childhood Development Centre. Both projects had been funded by Apex staff and tenants through various fund raising activities.

On this trip resources such as a football kit, footballs, skipping ropes, chalk, pens, pencils and toiletries were donated to Miwaleni P.S. on behalf of the wider St. John’s Primary School community, many of whom live in local Apex accommodation.

£25 per month funds a teacher in Miwaleni

On Monday 11th January 2016 staff from Apex gave the children at St. John’s Primary School a presentation of their visit. The children learned that £25 per month funds a teacher’s salary in Miwaleni – with up to 100 children assigned to each class.  They also saw photographs of learning resources made from recycled materials such as plastic bottles and bags. The greatest impact on the St John’s children however, was seeing the picture of sheer delight on the Miwaleni children’s faces when they received glossy, leather footballs as replacements to their banana leaf and plastic bag fashioned balls.

This excellent presentation contributed towards St. John’s P.S. Community Relations Equality and Diversity Programme. It also supported and validated the school’s Fair Trade status as a school committed to alleviating poverty and promoting sustainable development in less affluent countries.

Following the presentation the School Council issued John Boyle, Apex’s Property Services Manager, with a cheque for £500 towards Apex’s target of £10,000 to continue the on-going work in resourcing the Miwaleni Primary School and the Early Childhood Development Centre in Northern Tanzania.