Lancaster teacher's fundraiser to help Sudan schools

Carolyn Murray witnessed first hand the vulnerability of children and families when she worked in Juba, South Sudan.

Her Sudanese colleague moved to Yei village and started a small school but they soon had to leave everything and flee to Uganda as refugees as a result of a horrific civil war.

When they returned Carolyn was able to visit and was asked by her colleague Ester to help refurbish an old building in which they had restarted the school.

The initial aim was to raise £3,000 to re-roof and refurbish the building.

In 2006 Carolyn’s fundraising journey began with a parachute jump coinciding with her 50th birthday. Since then many people have given money and time to support Immanuel Kindergarten.

Instead of just refurbishing the old building the charity has raised more than £50,000 in the last 10 years and Immanuel Kindergarten is now a three-classroom school for 350 young children offering education of the highest standard.

Carolyn said: “Other people are seeing the positive things that can be done for the young children of South Sudan.”

Now Carolyn wants to help children in Agora, South Sudan who don’t have a school. The community would like to build one but need funds to purchase equipment.

She said: “The children currently would have to walk five miles to school so to have one in their village would be amazing.”

Carolyn is raising funds by doing a swimathon. Her team will be doing a 10 mile team swim on July 3 at 10am, at 3-1-5 Health Club, Caton Road, Lancaster. Visit https://mydonate.bt.com/events/immanuelkindergartenswim/306548.