I am Peter Gate. I won one of the first YOPEYs in Cambridge in 2006 but I have stayed in touch with founder Tony Gearing by judging YOPEYs since then, and by keeping him informed about the progress of my charity – Ugandan Rural Schools Initiative.

Basically, I raise funds to build classrooms in Uganda – about 50 to date.

If you’d like to ask me a question about how and why I did this, please can I ask you to first read my story on the Winners page of Area year, and then post your question here.

How much does it cost to build a classroom in Uganda? I have heard of schools in the UK raising £5k to build a single classroom.

Obviously it depends on the design for the classrooms as to how much you spent, and if the UK school is working in Kampala then this will be more expensive - but I really think that £5,000 per classroom is too much.

At Ugandan Rural Schools Initiative, which I founded in 2004, we spend our donors' money as follows:
• £2,000 will build a 25ft-square classroom for 60 children for generations to come;
• £600 will build a block of latrines to provide safe sanitation for a school for the next 10 years;
• £30 will buy a set of textbooks for a whole class. Typically 60 children, but can be more!
• £10 will buy a heavy-duty desk for three children to sit at.

Young people from the school paying £5k per classroom is welcome to register for this forum and I will give them as much advice as I can on making their money go further...

What does the future hold for your charity Ugandan Rural Schools Initiative?

My charity the Ugandan Rural Schools Initiative is in the process of merging with the Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund - who has been one of our biggest donors for the last 5 years.
We are keeping both charities running for the next two years but then URSI will transition to HVSMF which I think will give us the best opportunity to grow and help more schools in Uganda which is exciting
We are aiming for 20 schools by 2010 - currently at 14.

How much money in round figures have you raised to date? Would you mind telling us how you did this? And how many classrooms have you built for Ugandan children?

Hello Peter,

I was reading through your topic and i am absolutely stunned to see how much you are doing as a charity. I think you are doing brilliant to help those who need it most. Keep it up! ...

I would like to ask one question? You said in the beginning you raise funds in order to build class rooms? Is it funds through local companies in the UK? or Uganda? Do you also organise charity events in order to raise money?

Thank you... Well done once again ...

Hi Sabath - thanks for your question.

I started raising money by simply asking everyone that I knew to help me with a small donation. I was really lucky that my old school arranged a non uniform day which raised a decent amount. I managed to raise about £3,000 by writing to everyone that I knew, explaining the problems in Uganda and what I wanted to do to help. This gace me enough money to do my first project in Uganda. Once that was done and I could show people photos of what we had achieved it was much easier to ask other people to help. I got some some coverage in the local press and the money kept coming in. I then moved onto asking companies, grant giving bodies and holding fundrasing events in order to keep raising money.

Together with the Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund (the charity which I am merging with and I am now one of the charities directors) we have raised over £250,000 which has built over 50 classrooms, 30 latrines, 25 teacher's houses, a laboratory, 8 dormitories, 5 water tanks, as well as books, desks and equipment for schools.

Are you looking to raise money to help schools abroad? I would be happy to answer any more questions you may have - please just ask.

Best wishes

Peter

50 classrooms, 30 latrines, 25 teacher's houses, a laboratory, 8 dormitories, 5 water tanks, as well as books, desks and equipment for schools – WOW!

Hi Peter, what gave you the idea to build classrooms in another country?

Daniel Pritchard

Thanks for your question Daniel.

I spent my gap year working as a teacher in Uganda, and it was after working in schools over there, and seeing how poor the conditions are, that i decided to try and help these schools. To be honest, when I first decided to go to Uganda for my gap year, it was because I just wanted an adventure, and to go somewhere off the beaten track to teach. I didn't think I would end up starting a charity!

Peter

How did you first raise money and how did you raise it now? In other words, what lessons have you learnt about fundraising as you've gone alone?

I started off just asking everyone I knew for donations, my old school did a non uniform day and I put an article in the local paper which resulted in some donations. I managed to raise £3,000 in this way but soon realised that if I was to carry on raising money then I would need to change tactics. After all there is only so many times that you can ask the people you know to donate.

I decided to start applying to grant giving bodies, trusts and corporate grants - and trying to encourage other people to organise events for me. You need to write very detailed proposals to get money from grant giving bodies but they usually donate several thousand pounds so it is worth it. The most difficult part in setting up the charity was persuading the first grant giving body to support me - once you have done one project successfully the others are much more likley to support you as well.

The most important lessone I have learnt about fundrasing is to perservere - you have to kep going and don't worry if people say no or just ignore your letters!

By the way i amm Harry from nealewade school how many houses havre you built now


luv u

Neale Wade school as in March?