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Chris Walker from Friends of Pakati is also appealing for volunteers to help fundraise at Scunthorpe United’s home game on October 24
A Scunthorpe-based fundraiser has appealed for urgent support to meet a target to bring electricity to two schools in Zimbabwe. Our fan Chris Walker’s Friends of Pakati organization worked to raise around £1,600 to bring electricity to the southern African country – and renewed his calls for businesses in and around Scunthorpe to support the project, which recently received the go-ahead from the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority.
And Chris is also looking for an army of volunteers to collect buckets at Scunthorpe United’s upcoming game against Woking, at Glanford Park on October 24. In a first for Friends of Pakati, he hopes the appeal at the Iron’s match will help boost the £900 of the target raised so far.
Electrification of Pakati schools could have a transformative impact, says Chris, who taught as a volunteer at Pakati Secondary School in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He explained: “It will really benefit any practical lessons they have – so not just computers, but also a fashion and textiles class involving sewing machines and scientific equipment.
“Lights in the classrooms are also really important – especially as they do extra lessons after school for revision or whatever. We can also do things like local adult education. For example, people wanting to improve their English, maths or IT skills – that would be a good thing and can also help raise a few extra pounds for the schools themselves.
“And they could also put on events for the local community.”
Since launching the campaign, Chris has poured hours into promoting it with appearances on football podcasts and his own blogging. He is also running an online raffle for a signed and framed Matt Godden shirt, which has attracted interest.
Students in schools are currently busy with exams and with the Zimbabwean authorities having given permission for the project, there is now a final window to get the electrification work over the line. Chris estimates that within the next month the electrification works must be underway.
He added: “We need about 16 to 20 volunteers to help us on the 24th. At the moment we have about five or six. And that’s to cover entrances to the field every day – the more people we have, the more we can do on the ground.”
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