£400,000 BOOST FOR DERBYSHIRE PROJECTS TO FIGHT POVERTY
The new Development Awareness Fund (DAF) will back 26 new projects designed to help more people – from schoolchildren to community and faith groups – get personally involved in fighting global poverty,
Village Aid Ltd is receiving £148,000 in total giving youngsters in rural schools across four counties (Derbyshire, South Yorkshire, North Staffordshire and Cheshire) the chance to learn about African children, share experiences and help dispel some of the myths about poverty.
Drama Education Coordinator Helen Hunter –
“Without this DFID funding we wouldn’t be able to make this project happen. Getting out into schools to develop children’s global education is vital, which we do through creative ways such as using theatre and story telling techniques. ‘Growing Global!’ will look at the ways school children’s lives are connected to their peers in Africa, such as going to schools, living with family and friends, but we also want to highlight the differences, ie, things we often take for granted such as good living conditions, health care, education and having constant access to food and water.
‘Growing Global!’ will involve an interactive website which will connect young people here with their peers in West Africa. This will give children an opportunity to look at and share their own personal stories and through doing so, learn about each other’s lives across the globe. From these stories, we will create an interactive theatre in education production which will tour rural primary schools across all four counties.”
Global Education Derby aims to expand on an existing project to train up youth workers from across the East Midlands - thanks to more than £250,000 in DfID funding. These new skills will be used to help develop young people’s understanding of local and global issues, encouraging a sense of social justice and equality.