John Versey: Porridge and Pens

Today we were joined by fellow Rotarian John Versey, who brought us up to date on Porridge and Pens. Previously we have been updated by the founder, Gemma Williams, but she has had to step back for a while.

John reminded us that Gemma founded Porridge and Pens after spending a gap year living with a family in Ghana. The family she stayed with were reasonably well off. They even had a slave to do all the housework. Gemma befriended the slave and saw for herself he problems of the poorer people. After she returned to this country she raised funds for a project to provide a school for the poor children in the area. She acquired the slave and freed her. She later became the cook at the Brightlingsea School in Ghana, which Porridge and Pens underwrote. It was opened with just 30 pupils and one teacher.

In accordance with local practice, as more funds were obtained the school buildings were extended with another floor being built on top the ground floor. The school now has over 300 pupils and eleven teachers. As well as providing pupils who attend with education and uniforms, the school is also able to give the two cooked meals a day.

There is still work to be done. There are plans to extend the school further and to build a bridge over a local river that the pupils currently have to wade through to reach the school. John hopes that each Club in District 1240 will provide £500 towards the cost. A straw poll among those present indicated a willingness for our Club to do that, subject to discussion with our Treasurer on his return from holiday.