Education Project for Kaduna Diocese

This project coordinated by Ann Saxton has two active items:

• School Books - Obtaining good quality second hand books for schools and transporting them to Kaduna. This is in two sections:
  • Primary Schools - This was the mission project for St. Martin-in-the-Fields church in Finham, Coventry. So far some 4900 books have been collected, packed and transported to Kaduna. In Kaduna the distribution is organised by Malam Salamatu Audu is coordinating the distribution to all schools in Kaduna State.
    
    If other churches would like to get involved please contact Ann Saxton 01295 680613 or Email. It is hoped that the diocese will send another consignment towards the end of 2008. It costs about £10 per box of books.
    
• Theological Library - Providing theological books to establish a library at Jacaranda. - Some 60 books have already been provided by St. Martin-in-the-Fields church , but an appeal was launched in the 'Surge of the See' issued in September 2005. It is hoped from this appeal that sufficient money's will be forthcoming to purchase suitable commentaries and other books for the library. As at 28th February 2006 some £976 has been donated by 20 parishes in the diocese. We hope that some of the other 240 parishes will also make donations for Theological Books for the library.
• January 2009 a consignment of 28 boxes 6 Theological and 22 Children's are ready for transportation to Lagos, pictured below with Ann and Jim Saxton, these books have come from Bulkington, Chesterton, Halford, Kineton and Mid Fosse parishes, and thanks go to all those churches.
  
• Container was loaded by TWAM in Mid November, and arrived in Lagos early December 2009.

Unfortunately the agent who was allocated proved to be dishonest, and has apart from taking money's has seriously delayed the project. However, Rev. Dr. Chima who was coordinating the project for TWAM in Nigeria has taken upon himself to do most of the work. On 23rd September 2010 obtained documentation which excempts the consigment from duties. However, the costs of demurrage is still to be reolved.

The books are there!!

I am delighted to inform you that after over a year since the 34 boxes of books left us at Oxhill, they finally arrived at Kaduna diocese this morning 4th November 2010, see photos below:

Mrs. Agnes Awogbami with books ----------- Mrs. Agnes Awogbami and Rev. Dr. Chima Onye hands over books

First of all I would like to thank the following parishes and clergy for their donations of books:

• St. James, School Road Bulkington        696 books
• Our Blessed Lady Halford                       227 books
• The Mid-Fosse Parishes                          185 books
• St. Peter’s Kineton                                  1244 books plus 59 toys for crèche
• St. Giles, Chesterton                               154 books
• Various retiring clergy                            355 Theological books     
• Total                                                         2861 books

We would also like to thank Tools with a mission TWAM who have at great expense perserverred in getting the container cleared through docks at Lagos.

We would like to thank the Rev. Dr. Chima Onye from Owerri, Nigeria, without whose help the container and the books would never have reached Kaduna.  

Finally we would like to thank all those who have offered prayers to help the team to get the necessary paperwork, clearances for the container to be finally released.  

• Teachers visit - after many months of effort we finally managed to get Visa for Mrs. Agnes Awogbami Priciple of St. Michael's Primary school and Mrs. Rahila Malam teacher at All Soul's Primary School. They visited Coventry diocese in Septemebr 2009 staying with Ann and Jim Saxton for three weeks. during their visit they spent time in Primary schools in Kineton, Shipston on Stour, Brailes and also Finham pre school.
  
  They worshipped at St. Peter's Kineton and were active memebrs of the Monday Home Group. Also during their stay Jim trained them in IT skills and this has proved excellent since Agnes who bought a PC whilst in UK has been in email contact with Ann Saxton since her return to Kaduna.
  
  Since their return to Kaduna they have run two workshops with techers from various schools and have imparted teaching ideas learnt on their visit.
  
  
  
  
• Latest Book project: We have collected from within Coventry Diocese over 2000 books and Ann and Jim are busy packing books and making out paperwork to staisfy Nigerian custom needs. As yet we have not finalised an exporter, we are hoping the TWAM will be able to help, we will not no until nearer Christmas if we can use them.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Future Projects:
• Training of Primary School Teachers - The vast majority of teachers are dedicated but untrained persons, who hardly get paid let alone get themselves qualified. We are looking into the possibility of funding training.
• Materials for village schools, apart from the books project we wish to send funds so that basic materials can be put into the school/church e.g. Blackboards, Benches.