news

November/December 2010 Update 1

Another fantastic year for fundraising, well done to all, but a more sombre year for the BuildAid family with the loss of a trustee, Robert Stratton. Our best wishes are with his family and friends.

Annual fund raising totals for the year will be published in early 2011, excellent work done by all, and keep it up! - Deposits for the Morris Furniture Cannonball 2011 have begun to come in, info and applications can be reached through the MF webpages here - http://www.morrisfurniture.co.uk/charity.php

Or if you prefer, a secure and commission free donation can be made directly to BuildAid through our Donate Online service, to the left, powered by bmycharity.

Nepal - December 2010 Update - As here in the UK and north-west Europe we have a deep freeze, works are progressing in Nepal at a great pace. We have updated our gallery - you can now view images from the Lalgadh leprosy hospital from foundation work to fit out, with some 3D images and site plans, why not have a look? - Gallery Latest update - 20 December 2010

Don't forget that regular updates and other media is uploaded onto the Buildaid Facebook page, feel free to visit and 'like us'!

Africa - Ethiopia Hospital Project - We expect to have a scheme complete for the Jimma project in the coming weeks, an announcement will be made on this project in early 2011.

More to come - stay posted for more info.

BuildAid

Robert Stratton 10.02.1951 - 02.11.2010

Robert was a founder trustee of the BuildAid construction charity formed after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. He was responsible for all of the legal aspects of the charity and also assisted with the delivery of aid in the third world.

In the last five years he travelled extensively overseas, all as an unpaid volunteer delivering much needed aid in Sri Lanka, Ethiopia and Nepal. His hard work has improved the lives of literally thousands of children in Sri Lanka who now attend refurbished schools, drink potable water from a newly drilled bore hole, which also supplies the entire community and, in addition, they are now able to attend a modern dental surgery installed at one of the schools. He also assisted partner charities in building an orphanage in Kulleegoda and in providing housing for displaced fishermen at Balapitiya. All of this achieved in only 4 years!

As if that were not enough, he has also been working on assessments for two new hospital projects such as the Lalgadh Leprosy Treatment Centre in Nepal. The scheme there involves creating new facilities at the specialist hospital in multiple buildings, to include a new building housing an ante-natal and maternity unit, an x-ray department, day surgery and 25 bed ward. I have been advised by the hospital that this building will be dedicated to Rob’s memory as a mark of respect and in appreciation of his efforts. The other hospital Rob has been involved with is in Jimma, Ethiopia which is due to be built next year; once built it will be the only specialist plastic surgery and burns unit in Ethiopia, quite a legacy.

Rob was also a generous benefactor and fundraiser, tirelessly raising monies for the charity and donating his own cash on a regular basis.

He has never ceased to amaze me not least when he launched himself out of an airplane at 13,000 ft on a sponsored skydive - he will be sorely missed by all.

Robert Muir – Chair to Trustees and Co-founder

Haiti

Following the well publicised natural disaster and the tragic associated loss of life on Haiti in January 2010, BuildAid sent out an evaluation team to Port au Prince in Haiti on 13 March 2010, consisting of two Chartered Building Surveyors and a Structural Engineer. Read the Report

We assessed the current situation on the ground with a view to identifying suitable humanitarian projects and also looked into establishing partnerships with the organisations developing the strategic and holistic reconstruction and development plans.

We are looking to begin building and supporting other charitable organisations build schools, orphanages, healthcare and other community projects in Haiti in the very near future, depending on funding and donations.

Fund-raising throughout 2009 achieved £45,000 through Morris Furniture’s Cannonball Run and Skydive, well done to all.

2010 Fund-raising is well underway, with the Cannonball Run a greater success than the last with around £17,000 received so far, and spaces will be available for the upcoming Sky dive in October 2010, for details contact Morris Furniture through our supporter's page.

Nepal

We are funding with others the Lalgadh Leprosy Hospital in Nepal, assisting with the funding and construction management of new wards and treatment centre.

We visited the unit in 2009 and undertook a full assessment, and works are currently being undertaken, photos of which can be viewed on our projects page.

Ethiopia

We are also currently partnering with the UK and Eire branches of Operation Smile, to build a plastic surgery and burns unit at Jimma University Hospital, Ethiopia.

Fund Raising

Morris Furniture's continuing support via their Cannonball Run and Skydive fundraisers raised over £45,000 last year and we would urge anyone who can participate in either to contact us at the charity or Morris Furniture direct at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Further information can be found on the fund-raising page.

Fundraiser of the Year and now a Trustee!

Special thanks go to Rick Mackay in Edinburgh whose tireless efforts last year raised over £5000 at the Cannonball, various auctions and of course the Skydive.
Well done Rick, you are a star! – we also now welcome Rick as a Trustee.

New Tube Well

Unfortunately, the tube well installed on the Sumana Vidalaya school site last year has failed so we have now – with the help of the national water company and several thousand dollars – installed a deep tube well and pump which now provides drinking water to the whole Kulleegoda community.

SMILE

We are pleased to announce our involvement as a Joint Venture Partner with Operation Smile in the UK and Eire.
We are partnering with them to build a plastic surgery and burns unit at Jimma University, Ethiopia.
Throughout the world, Operation Smile volunteers correct childhood facial deformities while building public and private partnerships that advocate for sustainable healthcare systems for children and families.
More news on this soon!