We are pleased to announce that this month’s winner of the prestigious Jack Petchey Achievement Award is Charly Hutchinson of 11H. Charly is a member of the Army Cadet Force here in Braintree and as part of a 150 year celebration, the Force is sending 60 people from the UK to go to the Kingdom of Lesotho in South Africa. Charly is one of the 60 taking part; one of three from Essex chosen from two hundred applicants.

 

While Charly will be in Lesotho she will be going into communities to work with elder people to maintain their gardens and work with younger people teach them how to grow crops for food. These will help them become self-sufficient and not have to rely on charities to support them. Charly will also spend time on an expedition for a personal challenge, which could be one of walking through the desert, climbing a mountain or canoeing down a main African river. She will take part in a 4-day activity in Wales during April to assess which challenge she will be most suited to.

Charly has to fundraise £1,500 herself for the 3-week trip to Lesotho, the other £2,000 being provided by the Army Cadet Force. So far Charly has raised £500 and is awaiting payment from sponsors for the remaining £1,000. While Charly is in Lesotho she will be working for the Sentebale Fund which was founded by Prince Harry and Lesotho's Prince Seeiso to help the forgotten victims of poverty and of the HIV/Aids epidemic ravaging this kingdom. The Army Cadet Force is hoping to take out sports equipment, musical instruments and gardening tools. The trip actually takes place in July 2010.

During the non-uniform day in October, Charly and some of her friends dressed up as fairies to raise money towards her trip, when they raised £200 at school. Charly will be donating her £200 cheque from the Jack Petchey Foundation to the Sentebale Fund to enable them to provide further much needed items for villagers. We wish Charly much success in her venture next year and congratulate her on her achievement in raising the funds to go to Lesotho.

Mrs J Smith – Senior Teacher