By making a donation you can help make a difference. Every £1 goes to the charity to help run a farm that will feed the children we are well on the way in building a Wiltshire farm in Kenya!. I will be in Watamu in January making a documentary about the project so I can show you where the money is going. People who donate are on of my COWs. *smile* read more by following the links on the right ....
Big Thank-you and *smiles* to - Sally-Anne Franklin, Jane Cowley, Netts Kemish ,Sarah Eagle, Stella & Ailie Millar, Rich Oakman, Pete & Kate Bowerbank, Colin Brown, Anna Skolasinska , Simon Emms, Andy Hart, Sue Evans, Peter Evans, Louise Webster, Rachel Ellis, Sue Isaac, Diane Giddings, Karen Perrett, Kevin Marshall, Michele Noad, Linda Carey, Sam Jennings, Chris Eagle, Paula Winchcombe, Wiltshire Crimestoppers, The Kennet Kanter, Wiltshire Council Comm's and many more for their donations. All COWs of course
How I became involved
A few years ago we went to Kenya and had the holiday of a lifetime. The people and the Country were amazing but on returning we felt we could have helped and shared our skills and enthusiasm. I did some research and found this amazing lady called Sue Hayward and her Charity. In January 2008 with help and advice from Sue we visited Watamu and life has never been the same *smile* Sue, Dave, Silas and Rose have done amazing work for the children and it felt we could do our little bit to help. Sue has a heart of gold and works constantly to improve the lives of the children of Watamu. We visited the school and offered our services as its not all about giving money, its also being able to give your time and skills to help the School and the new project the Happy House. As a photographer and webmaster Sue decided I could help with the website and its been an enjoyable experience and Sue is so good to work with. She recently asked me to be a trustee, which I accepted and feel very honoured. On this section I will share some of my ideas of how you can help. Basically fund-raising is Fun and so rewarding! As you will see I like to put *smiles* on peoples faces and fund raising! does do that *smile*
Sue has asked me to raise funds for the Happy House farm so crops can be grown and animals raised to help feed the children. As I was born on a farm it is an area I am enjoying helping with. Here are some of my ideas, if you, your family, friends, school, club or work would like to join in please let me know!
This is my first fundraiser and basically I ask friends for £1 and a photo. The photo can be of themselves, friends, family, pets or scenery. When I get 100 photos I create a collage with the photos. A copy goes on the web so people can copy and one is printed to be on the Wall of the Happy House so the children can see all who have helped make a difference to them. You can help - can you get 10 photos or more of friends and family and get a £1 from each person?
My next fun photo idea is a jigsaw with a difference! The idea is to take some very tasteful photos of people wearing nothing but vegetables a bit like the WI calendar. Each photo will be split into 100 pieces and then we will ask for £1 for each piece. When £100 is collected all will be revealed! Objective is to get 10 photos which will raise £1000. Already have a few volunteers including Miss Wiltshire and looking for anyone over the age of 18 to give it a go alone or with friends. Either myself or my professional photographer friend Natalie will take the photos.
Having a party is so much fun and my next idea is simply invite 10 people along who will donate £10 for the event. It could be a dinner, BBQ, Christmas, fancy dress or anything where you can get together and have fun. The parties I organise are tarot parties. I have been a tarot reader for over 25 years and I am known as the Wisitmaster. I read for pleasure and and only accept money to give to charity. So if you have 10 friends and want a mystical night let me know. I do not always dress up as a Wizard *smile*
Well in fact for for my next idea and challenge its a 100 and a 1,000 minutes. Its simple to do something sponsored for 100 or 1000 minutes. Maybe stand on one leg, sit in a tub of beans, walk backwards, or just run how far in a 100 minutes! Collect £1 a minute and £100 will be raised per challenge! What I am planning is to spend a 1,000 minutes in a dark ghostly cellar bar or dungeon! we have 3 volunteers already I need 10. I also do ghost investigations so I am sure I will contact some spirits during the 1000 minutes but it will be fun. Let me know if you have a ghostly location or would like to take part.
I took a friend called Chuck to Kenya and Chuck has become famous. Basically Chuck is a little fluffy duck who I throw from person to person and take video footage of this. I then edit this together to give an impression of Chuck being thrown around the World!. I am looking to get a 100 people to do this and you guessed it! donate a £1 each making a £100 a chuck the duck video. If you have a video camera and want to help let me know otherwise look out for Chris Eagle and Joan Gallagher who will throwing Chuck around very soon!
For a gift idea for Christmas, birthday or any other special occasion why don't you send a Happy House gift certificate. Basically all you have to do is donate £10 or more to the charity via justgiving and we will send you a link where you can create your own gift certificate which will be e-mailed to you automatically so you can send or print to give to a friend. I asked my friends at work to donate the money they would normally spend on a card for my birthday to the Happy House project. Its something I proudly display on my wall. For more information please contact Sue or myself. Or donate via justgiving you will receive an e-mail with a link to a form for your certificate. We will add your message and friends name to the website if you wish
I know there are many people who would like to help a little with the project so I thought to give you support I would start a group where I can give support in fundraising for the Children Of Watamu. If I get enough interest I will set up a forum. Hopefully I can not only give you support for fundraising but give you help and advice about the web, photography and much more. As I am raising money for the farm and the children it had to be COW's the Children Of Watamu society. The mind boggles but its not a load of bull and will be fun. *smile* Will sort out a membership form but until then if interested
email me
Photo by Kara Franklin let me know if you would like a copy
As a taster of things I can share and hopefully inspire why not visit this site Photo Funia pick out an image (effect) and then on browse to find a photo on your PC and wait awhile to see your master piece. (example right) To keep a copy right click and then save. Do one for family and friends and charge them £1! You know where that should go *smile*
Not so much a fundraising idea but a place where you can share your ideas, photos and fund-raising events. If you are on facebook please join the Children of Watamu facebook page and get your friends to and there is no need to charge a £1 but you could *smile*
If you have any ideas or want to help or know more please drop me a line. I am sure I will be adding more ideas and photos soon.
Another way to support is to visit Watamu where you will have a holiday of a lifetime and get a chance to visit the school and the Happy House. Its a place to relax by the glorious Indian Ocean, to go on an adventure with a safari and of course support the Children Of Watamu. Maybe you can spend a few hours helping, all skills required, teachers, medical staff, gardeners, builders, no matter what your skill the project needs your help. Sue is working hard to make it sustainable the project is not for now its also for the future. You can make a difference my off-setting your holiday with some Community work. If you are going please contact Sue and she will let you know what to fill your suitcase with!. Every little helps. The project is also good for school / college trips. Contact Sue if you are visiting
I took a friend called Chuck to Kenya and Chuck has become famous. Basically Chuck is a little fluffy duck who I throw from person to person and take video footage of this. I then edit this together to give an impression of Chuck being thrown around the World!. I am looking to get a 100 people to do this and you guessed it! donate a £1 each making a £100 a chuck the duck video. If you have a video camera and want to help let me know otherwise look out for Chris Eagle and Joan Gallagher who will throwing Chuck around very soon!
