Plans are taking shape for the new Nursery School and we are seeking a supplier of a white board and of desks for the classroom. We also need to design a simple school uniform for the children. Hopefully these can be made locally. We have tried throughout all our projects to use local materials and labour whenever we can so that we help not only those in our care but the local community too. Unfortunately we are not able to do everything that we would wish to but as donations grow and funds increase we are really making a difference to the lives of people who have so little.
Little Stars has been given a Sony Hard Disc Video Camera on long-term loan and, once we have mastered its use and editing techniques, we hope to be able to make a short DVD of our work that we can send to supporters at the end of the year.
While at the Good Samaritan Home this month we asked them to try and find a second hand mini-bus that they could use to transport their children to and from their school which has now moved premises from the building that was close by the Home to another one on the far side of the railway lines. The bus would also be used to take children to Cairo for specialist treatment. A second bus is being sought for Little Stars as now that we are considering collecting children from the villages to bring them to the new Nursery School transport is becoming a major problem.
There is only one month left of our second financial year and so much has been achieved that it does not seem possible that we have only been in operation for two years. The drastic fall in the value of the pound that had plagued us at the beginning of 2009, and which immediately raised our costs by 25%, has eased slightly. The cost of buying and distributing food is still far higher than it was until quite recently, which means that we cannot help as many people as we would wish to, but there has been a small but steady rise in value of the pound which we hope will continue. However, your generosity has been wonderful and although we are watching our spending carefully, projects have not had to be curtailed due to lack of funds.
Total donations last year were approximately £36,000 but this year with a month still to go donations have already exceeded £52,000. Our annual accounts will be submitted for approval at the end of May and will be sent to the Charity Commission as soon as approval has been received where they are available for on-line inspection. Total expenses are still below the level of 15% of donations.
During the month we were approached by several people asking for information that would enable them to make a bequest for Little Stars in their Wills. We are identifiable by our unique Charity Commission number 1120536 and all details are on the website. We now ask everyone who is considering making a Will to think of the children of Upper Egypt when finalising the details as they need you. Please continue with your wonderful support.
You are welcome to print off a copy of our newsletter. Back copies have been archived through a link each month but if you wish us to send you copies of our newsletters then please send a large stamped addressed envelope to our UK registered
office. Back copies printable on A4 paper can be emailed to you, and any queries answered, through
contact@Little Stars-Luxor.org
With you we can do so much.
Without you we can do nothing.
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