Back our campaign and help change lives

By cwinyard

The Observer has today launched a major campaign urging our readers, businesses and politicians to get behind an effort to transform children's lives at a school in Africa.

We are supporting Great Barr School's efforts to boost facilities at Waterloo School in Sierra Leone for the benefit of youngsters.

Staff at Great Barr School have been in talks with Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to discuss their dream of transporting computers and other items to the school in Sierra Leone, which is currently without vital equipment and electricity.

The meeting with the high-ranking Government politician followed a fact-finding trip by staff from Great Barr School to Sierra Leone, which was organised to see the best way of getting an electric generator and a large number of computers to the African school.

The inspirational story has prompted the Observer to launch a campaign this week urging the whole community to get behind the ambitious and worthwhile venture.

To boost the fundraising and turn the dream into a reality, an exhibition of photographs taken during the visit by Great Barr School to Sierra Leone will be on display and up for sale during an event to be attended by VIPs at The Arts Lounge and the Three White Walls Gallery at Birmingham's Mailbox on Friday, January 23.

Great Barr School is also hoping to organise an abseil and a host of other events in a bid to raise funds for their drive to bring much-needed equipment to Waterloo School.

Daniel Locke-Wheaton, assistant head teacher at Great Barr School, who visited Sierra Leonne with fellow staff members Neil Morland and Alex Pearce, said: "We are really pleased that the Observer is supporting us. To have the paper's support is brilliant.

"There are 55 images and we will select 25 to 30 of them for display at the Mailbox."

Observer editor Natalie Missenden, said: "Great Barr School's effort to bring much-needed school equipment to children in Sierra Leone should be supported by everyone in the community.

"The Observer will do its bit to support Great Barr School's dream to take computers to Waterloo School.

"Support our campaign and make a real difference to the lives of children in Sierra Leone."

■ If you would like to support our campaign, call the Observer newsdesk on 0121 355 6061 or email greatbarrobserver@cintamworth.co.uk