Newsletter.

Hello everyone

I wanted to share an important update about the footbridge project at Brightlingsea Academy in Ghana — something many of you kindly supported some time ago. In many rural areas of Ghana, including around Brightlingsea Academy, the river banks often burst or flood, especially during heavy rains. This happens because climate change has made the weather more unpredictable — the rainy seasons are shorter but much heavier, and flooding can happen suddenly and more often than before. When the river floods, it becomes very dangerous and difficult for children and adults to cross safely. This makes it hard for children to get to school and for families to go about their daily lives, sometimes forcing them to swim across or take long, unsafe detours.

Building a sturdy footbridge will help keep everyone safe and connected, even when the river floods. This has been our goal for many years, particularly in a hazardous part of the community affected by the flooding which connects our school community to a nearby village, where many of our students live.

We set about raising the money for the bridge a few years ago now, we weren’t able to get permission from the local chief to build on the land. It was a real disappointment for everyone, especially knowing how much the children needed it.

So, instead, we used the funds we raised to help buy a school minibus — known affectionately as “the busy bus” by the children — and to cover its running costs over the past few years. Thanks to one very generous donor, we were able to raise the rest of the money needed to get the bus on the road.

Before we had our busy bus, children would make dangerous trips to the main road to call for transport to take them to school. We have had groups of children turn up to Brightlingsea Academy in the back of lorries and other types of vehicles.

That bus has made a huge difference, making around ten trips each day to bring the youngest children from nearby villages to school — many of whom wouldn’t be able to attend otherwise.

Now I’m happy to say that the footbridge is finally going ahead.

Flooding in the area has become worse in recent years, with unpredictable rains and regular flooding outside of the usual rainy season. It’s been very dangerous, with children and adults sometimes forced to cross the river in unsafe ways to get to school or work. Mostly, children are carried across by an adult, but it’s the times when an adult is not around that worry us all the most.

Thankfully, with a change in local leadership and support from a nearby church, we’ve now secured permission to build the bridge. We’re aiming to start work soon and hope to complete it within the next three months, before the rains get worse again.

We’re also very grateful to Childrensalon for helping us fundraise to get this project completed. Their support means a lot to us.

I wanted to share this update with you personally. Your support helped make the busy bus possible, and now, thanks to everyone’s patience and partnership, the bridge will soon be a reality too.

Thank you so much for being part of this journey and for your ongoing support of the children at Brightlingsea Academy.

Thank you so much,
Jemma Williams
Founder, Porridge and Pens.