FUND-RAISING SUCCESS

SUPERB FUND-RAISING SUCCESS – MAY 2008

ZAP’s major fund-raising event this year was a Garden Tour and Drinks Party which we held at the stunning venue of Houghton Hall in Norfolk, by kind permission of the Marquess of Cholmondeley. The main marquee of the Subaru Houghton International Horse Trials was generously made available to us by Alec Lochore and Musketeer Event Management and the services of the Head Gardener at Houghton were given free of charge. Bar and catering at this event, and at Mr Pandu's Norfolk reception were supplied at cost. We are extremely grateful to everyone involved.

The event was very well attended and despite awful weather, most of the 150 guests actually braved the elements to tour the award-winning walled gardens. Including proceeds of the grand raffle (lots of prizes generously donated) plus sales of Zanzibar goods and many kind donations the total amount of money raised was £5,000 (net). A fantastic sum, but it didn’t end there.

Mr Pandu’s visit (see news item below) came at a fortuitous time, for he was able to provide first-hand information about the disastrous water crisis which has hit our community in Zanzibar (see also below). Talking to him personally during his visit made the situation only too real and immediate for those ZAP supporters who were able to meet him, and as a result ZAP has received enough in extra donations to enable us – in a private/public partnership with the villagers, who have raised the balance of funds – to purchase and install a new, modern water pump, plus electrical regulator, just as soon as this can be arranged. This will quite literally be a life-saver, and will mean an end to a terrible period of hardship in Jambiani.

To everyone who contributed, and supported these events, we give our heartfelt thanks on behalf of the Jambiani community. The strengthening link between ‘our two peoples’, as Mr Pandu put it, is the key to the success of ZAP’s work. We are making a real, tangible difference to so many peoples’ lives – we are giving them opportunities they deserve, but have never had, and it is due to our supporters’ faith in us, and their continuing enormous generosity that we are able to continue to do so.

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