charity involvement
Why, you may wonder, would one man have been instrumental in whole or in part, in creating so many charitable organisations over the years? Well, he tells us that “its very often the most effective way of actually getting things done – whether it be in education, welfare, international aid, heritage or culture.” The three that Peter is currently so active in, are but the tip of the iceberg, in terms of many decades of charitable endeavours and action. Yes, a few have come and gone, but quite a number have endured and continue to have impact; to bring something quite life-transforming to those on the receiving end. Fundraising for these charities, or specific projects is high on the agenda each year, as are creating productive partnerships and the ever pressing need to raise public profile.
Who better to set out the Maasai Girls Education stall within the JTMT, than one of the girls who has now reached a major milestone in her educational journey? Here, Nelly aged 19, just tells it how it is for her – it is surely deeply moving:
“I am so happy to have completed my secondary school education with your support. I worked hard and I am happy that I passed my exams, and I am now going to join university….to study accountancy.”
The Trust has now launched a new Five-Year Plan 2024 – 2028/9. Here there is vision, commitment and determination, plus a recognition that education is the long haul – not a quick fix. Here`s a few extracts from what the girls ell us:
“My name is Lydia, and I am 15 years old. I am in form 3 now and my school is over 300 kilometres away from my home. Today Ezekiel visited our home to bring the good news. I am burning and I feel like exploding. I am trembling as I write this letter to you. I do not know what to say but I would like to thank you very much for your support. I am so delighted. . .”
“After two weeks of internship in one of the high schools, students started to appreciate me and enjoyed my lessons in physics and mathematics. This made me so proud and energetic in my work as a teacher, and it was dawning on me that I am slowly becoming the teacher, that I so much wanted to be since I was a young girl.” Susan.
“My mother has never gone to school and my sister is in grade six, my father died when my mother was still in her teens and she gave her story on how she struggled to keep us in school and provide for our needs.” Abigail.
In enabling AMLI (Accross Maisailand Initiative) to achieve its great aims of having more girls and young women obtain all the benefits of higher education, this will bring about the internally defined change it aspires to. We are now well placed to play an active part in this. Together, we will see more young women re-investing all that they have achieved, for the benefit of the next generation of girls and for course their wider communities.
“It will be a joy to see them taking a greater lead within their communities – showing leadership and inspiration for other girls
to follow. This is sureley the best goal possible,” Peter said with his usual, ever infectious, enthusiasm.
Peter tells us, “to be able to open the door to secondary and higher education for these girls is surely an exemplary piece of humanitarian aid. They could teach us all a thing or two about motivation and determination – it's so inspiring. We are in this for the long haul though, because thats is what the educational journey is. With our Five-Year Plan driving us forward, we`ve got a vision and clear direction. I'm honoured to be part of it. So I'm inviting you to be part of it too, by helping us make it happen for these girls now and into the future, please make a donation here. Thank you, on behalf of Nelly, Abigail, Susan and Lydia.
The Green Team grew out of the clear demand from young people involved in the DofE programme in the Edinburgh area for opportunities to tackle environmental action and involvement. This coincided with the early development of the John Muir Award. Peter was actively involved in these innovative intiatives almost 30 years ago, and both have gone on from strength to strength in the intervening years. He is now Senior Patron to the Green team, and is glad to support it in whatever way he can.
It has now evolved into a diverse range of projects for young people and children, linking with various partners and kindred programmes or organisations. Now describing itself thus: “The Green Team has been successfully running programmes of outdoor activities for young people since 1995. Our programmes offer a unique blend of practical conservation tasks, outdoor fun, environmental education and personal development. We work with individuals, school groups and referring partners. There really is something for everybody.” Peter tells us he`s delighted to see the ways in which it is flourishing today.
He tells us that from the Rio Earth Summit of 1992, various surveys were carried out in order to identify amongst other things, the level of involvent in environmental action by young people in the UK. This showed that the level of active involvement was, at the time, very low indeed, especially given the compelling needs. “This was a wake up call,” he says. “It was patently obvious that new opportunities for active involvement had to be devised, structured and implemented; rapidly. And so both the Green Team and John Muir Awards grew out of this urgency, and I was glad to be able to be part of getting it all moving. The needs today, are as compelling as ever.”
The more recent appreciation of the value of Nature for mental health has added a valuable new dimension to the work of the Green Team, and Pete's Pedal for young minds - The Green Team was Peter`s contribution to this for 2024.
Friends of Newbattle Abbey College Society
When Newbattle Abbey College decided to name it`s new facility the Peter Wright Outdoor Learning Hub it was in recognition of the variety of ways in which he had utilised the College resources over the years with a diversity of groups and organisations. Friends of the Award (FOTA) used the Lord Ancrum Wood for work with young people who were struggling with School. The Green Team used it for a range of environmental projects which brought together DofE and John Muir Award actvity. Staff and leader development as part of the Duke of Edinburgh`s Award Unit in the City of Edinburgh benefitted from the resources available in and around the College. Peter also spent time working on his first novel, Waking the Sleeping Giant within the very approraite setting of the College library. The creative cells were nurtured in that environment.
All this, harks back to the days when he was a student there himself. Newbattle left its mark. “Entering the grounds of Newbatle Abbey College in the Autumn of 1968 was like entering a whole new world for me. Leaving behind a labouring job, and embarking on an experience that was like no other, I discovered that I could learn, after all. In my fellow students I saw much wider horizons, and above all, I gained the confidence to go forward towards a career in youth work. I owe Newbattle and external debt of gratitude.”
Chance discussions that took place during and after the opening of the Peter Wright Outdoor Learning Hub, pointed the way for the need to develop something new to capitalise on the many and diverse positive experiences that Newbattle has stimulated, and look forward by re-investing the goodwill that surely grows from that. The idea of a Friends of Newbattle Abbey College Association emerged, and Peter cautiously took on the role of chair of a working group charged with progressing it. This is very much work in progress, as the first public meeting will take place early in October 2024. From the discussions within the group, the key purpose will be: `Friends of Newbattle Abbey College will be an association of students past and present, members of staff, connections from universities, colleges and schools, and all supporters of the work and development of the College, as it continues its core purpose of giving inclusive educational and skill-based opportunities to adults and young people.` Thats what it says on the tin, so the aspirations of the embryonic FNACA will take shape and emerge with Peter`s active involvement.
“I want anyone and everyone to derive the diverse range of benefits that Newbattle Abbey College and its setting has to offer, and to generate something that will give it all added value. If you want a flavour of what may be possible with all its promise, then visit www.nac.ac.uk Hopefully that will set you thinking.