Timeline
2006
Founding
Self-funded, fact-finding visit to Liberia
Container sent to Liberia, Help a Child Africa charity born, donations handled by St. Augustine’s church, High Wycombe.
2007
Start of schooling
159 children in school
159 children in school in Grandcess funded by Help a Child Africa. voles, postea. Mihi enim satis est, ipsis non satis. Negat enim summo bono afferre incrementum diem. Quod ea non occurrentia fingunt, vincunt Aristonem.
2008
College
The highest achievers
155 children in school and introduction of the scheme of funding 2 of the highest achievers through college each year.
Self-funded, fact-finding visit to Liberia.
2009
4 young people in College
4 people in College
150 children in school and 4 young people in college.
Help a Child Africa became independent of St. Augustine’s and was registered with the
Charity Commission.
2010
6 people in college
6 people in college
- 140 children in school, 6 young people in college and the introduction of funding for 4 children with additional needs in Monrovia. An African Evening was held at St. Edmund Campion church, Hazlemere to update supporters on the work of the charity and with a demonstration by Rwandan dancers and lovely African food!
- 2 supporters undertook to walk the Thames Path in aid of Help a Child Africa and 2 other supporters undertook a half marathon dressed as the Super Mario Brothers! in aid of Help a Child Africa.
- Help a Child Africa Facebook page launched.
- Help a Child Africa signed up to Easyfundraising, a way for supporters to raise money for the charity when shopping online.
2011
People with additional needs
4 children with additional needs
- An African Evening was held at St. Edmund Campion church, Hazlemere to update supporters on the work of the charity with a demonstration by acrobats and lovely African food!
- Visit to England by the then in-country representative Father Sarius. He was interviewed about the school and life in Liberia and the interview was posted by way of a question a day on the Help a Child Facebook page.
- We had our first, now annual, mulled wine and mince pie stall at the Blessed John Henry Newman parish and St. Augustine’s Christmas Bazaar - raising awareness with a bit of fundraising.
- Self-funded, fact-finding visit by trustees lap top computers taken out in response to a request as IT skills are very necessary to obtain employment.
- We signed-up to receive money for recycling old mobile phones and ink cartridges.
2012
8 young people in college
8 young people in college
- 110 children in school, 8 young people in college and funding for 4 children with additional needs.
- St. Edmund Campion church closed and the “Final Big Bash BBQ” raised funds for Help a Child.
2014
4 children with additional needs
4 children with additional needs
- 100 children in school, 8 young people in college and funding for 4 children with additional needs.
- School closed in October because of Ebola, Help a Child Africa took the decision to continue paying the teachers a retainer.
2015
Liberia declared Ebola-free
School re-opened after the summer holiday
- Liberia was declared Ebola-free in May. School re-opened after the summer holiday.
- 100 children in school, 8 young people in college and funding for 4 children with additional needs.
- RISE Theatre performed their White Rabbit play at Immaculate Heart of Mary church Great Missenden and the proceeds of the evening were donated to Help a Child Africa.
- A primary school in Gravesend raised money for Help a Child Africa after hearing about the charity from their parish priest who used to be at St. Edmund Campion.
2017
100 children in school, 6 young people in college
School re-opened after the summer holiday
- 100 children in school, 6 young people in college and funding for 2 children with additional needs.
- The St Augustine’s confirmation group raised money for Help a Child Africa.
2018
Visit to Liberia by Father Sam
Visit to Liberia by Father Sam
- 100 children in school and 6 young people in college.
- During his visit to Liberia Father Sam delivered a private donation to the school in Grand Cess to enable them to have much needed new desks and chairs made.
2019
Launch of new website.
Launch of new website
- 100 children in school and 6 young people in college.
- Launch of new website.
2020
School closed in March due to Coronavirus.
School closed due to Coronavirus
- 100 children in school and 6 young people in college.
- School closed in March due to Coronavirus.
- School reopened in August, observing and adhering to the Government Health Protocols.
- The college student support scheme had to be withdrawn during the year due to problems caused by Coronavirus restrictions.
2022
100 children in school
Special project at the school
- Work went ahead on a special project at the school financed by a generous donor.
- A planned visit by Trustees to Grand Cess had to be postponed because of ill health.
- We received a thank you video from some of the parents at St. Patricks, the sound quality was not very good but it was good to hear the benefit that the parents feel the scheme is bestowing on their children.
2024
5 young people in college
5 young people in college
- The long planned visit by trustees to Grand Cess is scheduled to take place in December, although close attention is being paid to the mpox situation in Africa.
- We were shocked earlier this year when our website was hacked and all our data was lost. Thanks to the dedicated work of our volunteer website designer we have managed to get it back up and running. It is a pity that people with an I.T. talent don’t put it to better use than picking on small charities.
