Children of Gasura

Imagine a world without hope. Where each day is a struggle just to have something to eat let alone dare to dream of going to university. You'd really love to be a engineer-you know you'd be good at it. You met one recently and he was great, building things, designing things, making a difference.

Imagine a world where it costs £5 a month to have a hot meal at school but it might as well be £500 because it's just too much money for your family. You'd love to have notebooks and pens for school but your Dad and Mam are very sick so notebooks and pens are just not that important.

Every day Samuel goes through this. He's at a basic secondary school in Kibuye, Rwanda. I taught Samuel for over a year whilst he was at primary school and he really is an intelligent young man with a calmness and politeness that defies his very tough life. He walks a few miles to school each morning, he tries his best, he works hard. After school he walks home to care for his parents. Day in, day out.

Seth was consistently top of his class throughout primary school and in normal circumstances, in different circumstances, he'd have a very bright future. But his family have no means of buying him the most basic of materials for school and this won't change; eventually Seth will drop out-not because he wants to and not because his parents want him to-but because without help their life will not change. Seth could actually attend a very good school with the results that he gets, but that would cost £500 a year for six years.

Now imagine that you have the ability to change this, just by donating some money to this website.

Imagine being able to say to Samuel that someone, in a different country, on the other side of the world believes in you, wants to share with you, that you getting a good education matters to them.

Poverty is not just lack of money, it's not having the capability to realise one's full potential.

Without your help Rose will probably go to school for another few years if she is lucky. Without an education Seth will have no hope of becoming a doctor, no hope of saving the life of the passing tourist who contracted malaria.

The children of Gasura, Kibuye, Rwanda are bursting full of talent. They take nothing for granted, they work hard, they dream big. As you read this please know that every donation goes directly to these children. I have known them for a few years and I have seen the difference it can make to their daily lives, the inspiration it gives them to work hard and be the best that they can be. I also see the difference it makes to the parents-they too realise that others are taking an interest in their child, that things can change, that education can and will make a difference.

A friend in Kibuye told me recently: "we don't want you to buy the fish for us, just to show us how to fish."

A world without hope is unimaginable. By donating to this website you will give hope to the children of Gasura. Children who want to work hard, to succeed, who want to grow into responsible adults, to benefit themselves and their beautiful country. Children who have the potential to become teachers, engineers, doctors.....but just need a little help and support from you and me. Thank you.