Sleaford Swaziland Community Friendship (SSCF) was registered with the Charity Commission in 2003 but work actually started in 1999 with a fact finding visit by Lynda Clark, now the Chairman. The visit led to an expedition to mark the turn of the century by 5 staff and 12 cadets from 2160 (Sleaford) Squadron Air Training Corps in July/ August 2000. Three weeks were spent at Nyamane Primary School in order to install a clean, safe water supply. Other work carried out on that visit included refurbishing the shower block, building pit latrines, donating over 2,000 pairs of spectacles to a diabetic clinic and teaching English at the school. This expedition was such a resounding success that several of the staff members decided to continue the work in Swaziland and set up the charity to run as a separate entity.

Fundraising efforts started straight away and plans made for a container to be sent with supplies for the school and two orphanages. This was to coincide with a visit by members of SSCF to carry out further work. We launched an appeal locally for donations of books as we intended to build a library at the school – we shipped about 18,000 altogether! On the same visit we had an electrician on the team, Ed Drayton, so were able to rewire and make safe much of the wiring at the school as some of the classrooms had been damaged in storms. We built a further two pit latrines, repaired roofs, ceilings and the water system. Phil Shelbourn, who was our engineer on the original trip, also came along and he gave the water system a thorough overhaul. Our main task of establishing a library was a huge success, helped by librarian Estelle Drayton. We started from bare walls and within two weeks had it fully operational – quite a feat given that the container was delayed on Durban docks for five extra days! Volunteers Martin and Heather Crosthwaite were the dedicated labour force in the library – talk about a working holiday! We had used the remaining space in the container for boxes of clothes and shoes for two orphanages that we had contacted, the SOS Children’s Village in Nhlangano and the ABC Ministry at Big Bend, it was a moving experience when we delivered these – both such clean, pretty and happy homes with cheerful and dedicated staff.

While we had been in Swaziland to build the library we spent time talking to the teachers, governors and local elders about a possible project for our next visit and a dairy cattle scheme seemed to have the most potential. The pastures have been laid and plans drawn up for the scheme, in conjunction with the Area Rural Agricultural Officer. We plan to establish a small dairy herd to bring an income to the school, this will include a full-time herdsman with dedicated housing at the school. As an interim to this project, a further visit was made and another container of supplies sent. The visit enabled us to view the developments and discuss progress with all concerned. Appeals in the community at Sleaford had brought forth a container full of books, children’s clothes and shoes, teaching aids, educational toys, football strips and equipment, paper and stationery, sports equipment and simple medical supplies all of which we distributed whilst we were there. Oh, and an organ for the Church, too! There is still a lot of work to be done on the dairy cattle project and we are fundraising to complete this. Originally, we planned to complete in September this year so all being well and funds permitting there will be a dairy herd at Nyamane Primary School before long.