Meldrum Joinery & Building are delighted to be supporting a community construction initiative in Tanzania by sponsoring a participant, Brooke Law.
Two senior school pupils from Perth are fundraising to go to Tanzania next year to help build shelters as part of a church project.
Brooke Law and Dreanna Norris from Perth Grammar will be aged 18 and 17 when they take part in the project run by the Vine Trust.
The young people will assist in building houses for people living in poverty, helping to provide vulnerable children and families with a safer and better quality of life. Around 21 Perth Grammar students are signed up to go in 2024, with other schools also taking part.
The girls will spend two weeks next year acting as volunteer labourers. They will not be expected to join construction work as this is beyond their skill level but they will mix cement and generally assist.
“It was quite a challenge to apply for this,” explained Brooke. “We had to send emails to our teachers explaining why we wanted to go. “I believe it will be a really good experience. I’ve heard about it through the school and I was really keen to go.”
Dreanna said: “My church, Letham St Mark’s, has been working with the Vine Trust, so I’ve been aware of the home shelter project for a long time. “It wasn’t sending student volunteers out during the last few years because of Covid so I was determined to get on the 2024 trip when I got the chance. I’m really excited about it.”
Brooke has been sending off emails to ask local businesses to help her raise the £4,000 she needs to cover her costs. She struck lucky when Perthshire construction firm Meldrums offered to give her sponsorship. She will wear their branded hi-vis waistcoat on-site in return for financial assistance.
Derek Petterson, CEO at Meldrum, said: “As a local Perth-based construction company, we are delighted to be supporting Brooke and the team on their mission to Tanzania to build houses for those in need. “The work that they will be carrying out will make a real positive difference in improving the lives of those in the village – we wish them all the very best.”
Andrew Donaldson, marketing manager at Meldrums, has been up Mount Kilimanjaro for charity and took a special interest in the pupil volunteer group assisting the Vine Trust Tanzania project.
Brooke is about halfway to her big target now and has several events still to come. She has been doing car washing and amassing raffle prizes.
If you’d like to help support Brooke with her fundraising efforts, you can do so via a GoFundMe appeal page – https://www.gofundme.com/f/jhg7f-funds-for-tanzania