2009 Message

I am very pleased to tell you that during 2007/08 we were again able to generate over £18,000 for the projects we supported. This included the final payment of £1500 to complete the construction of a new classroom at the children's orphanage in Chosica. We chose this as a way of marking the first 25 years of our existence. A list of those to whom we sent funds in the year 2007/08 is included overleaf.

Although TWOAT has been in existence for over 25 years, we currently have less than 150 people on our list of Friends of TWOAT. By Friends we mean people who regularly support us with donations or help at our events. As we concentrate on projects with local links, we do sometimes lose contact with supporters when they move away from this area and others sadly succumb to illness or old age. Thus the addition of new Friends in many recent years has been offset by almost equivalent losses.

This year we have decided to try a radical new approach to raise our profile and increase the number of Friends of TWOAT. We have designed and printed 5,000 copies of a leaflet showing examples of the projects we have supported. With the help of local churches and other groups over the next 3 months we hope to have delivered one of these leaflets to every household in Tadworth, Walton and Kingswood. The cost of printing the leaflet itself was generously covered by a local business, Nethercott Opticians, so none of TWOAT's own funds were used. It is proud tradition for us that any money donated to us will go to the projects with no deductions for UK administration or fund raising.

The 5,000 leaflets will be more than enough to cover all the local households. If you are aware of individuals not actually residing in Tadworth, Walton or Kingswood, who might be interested in TWOAT, then please ask us for some of our leaflets and pass them on.

Our Christmas Appeal is on behalf of the RUSH Academy school in Kenya. One of the RUSH organisers, Liz Noble, spoke at our ASM two years ago. Many projects like RUSH need to raise money for running costs as well as new developments. Our donation will be used for both aspects at the Academy which now has over 200 children of primary school age and hopes to grow that number.

Mike Fox