Hundreds of school pupils from all across the north-east held dodgeball tournaments, talent shows, bake-offs and other events yesterday.
They did so in an effort to help save the lives of up to 100 babies in Africa as part of The ARCHIE Foundation’s annual appeal to support a Ugandan hospital.
Every year, the foundation takes one day off from supporting young people in Scotland to encourage school pupils to help support Mulago Hospital in Uganda – the country’s first operating theatre designed with young patients in mind.
Students throughout the region held a wide range of fundraising activities to both raise cash for the hospital and learn what life is like growing up in the East African country.
This year, the money raised by youngsters will go towards funding the purchase of a neo-natal ventilator, an expensive device which doctors at Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital say will help to save the lives of up to 100 babies a year.
The Bridge of Don Brownies in Aberdeen put on a recycling marathon – earning a Uganda-themed badge in the process – and ARCHIE’s chief executive, David Cunningham, joined students at St Peter’s School in the city in a dodgeball tournament.
North of Alford, pupils from Tullynessle Primary dressed up in Ugandan colours and held a sponsored walk around their playground, and at Echt Primary, the youngsters put on a coffee and cake morning.
And in the north-east at Maud Primary, close to New Deer, pupils staged a pyjama day to help raise funds.
The final amount raised has yet to be calculated, but staff at The ARCHIE Foundation are hoping to make as much cash as possible to buy the ventilator.
Emma Slessor, a fundraising manager for the charity and co-ordinator of ARCHIE in Africa, said: “It’s been a really fun day and all the kids have had a great time fundraising and learning about life in Uganda.
“I’d like to thank all the children, their teachers, families and youth groups across the north-east who all pulled together to make it such a successful day.”
Schools in Moray will hold their own ARCHIE in Africa day on April 22, and there’s still time to get involved.
For more information, visit www.archiefoundationhome.org.uk
