Newsletter July 2007Time for another One Percent Scheme newsletter for you all. Lots of new developments over the last few months, both for the charities we have been helping and within the OPS itself. Sadly, Mr Ross Dickinson, one of the founder members of OPS and all-round general nice person, is heading for pastures new (namely driving around the motorways of the UK in his van, as far as we can gather) and so the OPS is poorer for his absence (but more on that later). Ross was the key man behind all the lovely newsletters you received before, showing a way with words and insults to rival Dickens. Never have so many innuendoes been used to describe the work of a charity. He has been replaced, if it is possible to replace such a human colossus, by myself, Alistair Kleebauer and I would like to insist in advance that my words will not be as entertaining or my vocabulary as varied but I will try my best for all you good people.
Seeds of Hope - July 2007 (report by Anna Ray)
Salaam Baalak Trust - July 2007 (report by Marcus Fairhurst) Our Partnership with SBT continues to run smoothly as a hamlet cigar. Dushyant, our contact in Delhi, is always excellent about getting interesting and enthusiastic feedback to us that we’re very grateful for. The contact centre at Old Delhi Railway Station which we’re sponsoring has been up and running since Feb his year... To read the rest of this article, please click on the link above. Coalition Against the Use of Child Soldiers - July 2007
Members of OPS also went to see a talk by Ishmael Beah recently. Ishmael is a former child soldier from Sierra Leone who has written a book, 'A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier' , which has been a bestseller in America and which has publicised the plight of child soldiers around the globe. His talk showed how rehabilitation of child soldiers is possible, but extremely difficult. One of the main topics of discussion is the ongoing problems in Sierra Leone which led Ishmael to fear that the country could be torn by civil war again in the future. This is why the work of the Coalition is so vital and they, along with Ishmael, are doing their upmost to bring this to the attention of the international community. Mr Beah also made it onto the Daily Show in the old US of A. HIs interview can be seen here. This a dangeorus act of copyright violation but we remain hopeful that Comedy Central have better things to do then sue a charity. Both Marcus and John have copies of the book, 'A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier', which they would very much like to share with you. If you would like to borrow a copy, please email them and they will wing one your way (its first come first served though people). Alternatively, you can purchase a copy from all good booksellers or through the tinternet. Click here.
As you can read in the report, Headway are also organising a number of barbecues in London on 8th, 9th and 10th August for which they need volunteers to help with the preparations. If any one could help, please contact Emma at emma.jewell@headwayeastlondon.org. Volontaire Globalisation - July 2007 (report by Marcus Fairhurst) After a bit of a protracted wait, we finally got all the details we needed to send last years funds over to V Glob, the community-building project in Nyitoe, Togo - West Africa. The money is being put toward the renovation of the villages' health centre and with the help of a Belgium engineer the village has just bought materials and tools ... (to read the rest of the article click on the link above) News Felch - All the other news from OPS World OPS has another new member to announce this quarter - Caroline Windsor. Thank you for joining Caroline. The potentially annual OPS Tandem Bike Ride is still on the cards. The August Bank Holiday weekend (25th to 27th August) will see OPS members Dave, John, Marcus, Luke and Rich and other notable miscreants setting off from an undisclosed location in the English countryside to cycle back to London. They will be inviting everyone to guess how far they will actually travel nearer the time (and donations will of course be more than welcome). Knowing the insatiable lust of John for the outdoors and the open road, it will probably take on Tour de France-esque proportions. All members will of course be drug tested prior to the event. My money is on at least 436 miles covered. To find out more about this event or to take part, just send us an email: john@onepercentscheme.org Ross Dickinson - We Hardly Knew Thee Ross/Russ/Ray/Roy - friend, patriot and countryman, what can I say, dude. From those first booze addled nights sat watching the sun come up with all the Nottingham junkies and winos - to this the a fully fledged, accredited & working charity. Can't thank you enough for all of your help, wit & words along the way. Hoping this break is only temporary - I shall desperately missed being mercilessly ridiculed every quarter. All the best marra. And when you do start your band. Please call it 'our mate rod'. Take it easy dude. J Rodriguez - words escape me my good man. As a relative newby to the OPS bossom I can only thank thee for all your endeavors - and especially introducing us to a certain Romanian homestay where I watched a small child milk a cow in our honour. Your name shall echo through the ages. Dave.
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To let you know a bit about myself, I mainly know the holy OPS trinity of Marcus, John and Dave through having lived in their front room for a year. This arrangement was supposed to last a month but they grew so fond of the sight of me in my boxer shorts while they tried to have their breakfast that they begged me to stay. I now cannot sleep unless I am within two yards of a washing machine. I have undoubtedly suffered some psychological trauma during my twelve months there but still I wouldn't have changed it for anything. 
Contact with Seeds has been really great this quarter and our donation, apparently their largest yet was gratefully received. With our money they have been able to rent a new, bigger and better house for the children which has 3 classrooms and enough space for a bathroom and a kitchen unlike the old school. They can now wash their hands before eating, have a hot meal and drink and clean their teeth after meals, leaving the outside sink for full washes which is something that some of the children don't get to do very often... To read the rest of this article, please click on the title above.
In a bid for global world charity domination the like of which has not been seen since Bono last bothered to get off his fat arse, OPS not only helps charities in the UK, but across the globe. The Coalition Against the Use of Child Soldiers have been in talks the UN Security Council in New York this month. A representative has been sent to inform members of the Council on the plight of child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo and to hopefully, influence this body into some action. It is an unprecedented development for the Coalition. Mr James Etchells of Holland is our main contact with the Coalition and he has produced a report on recent developments. Just click on the title above.
Headway is one of the UK charities that OPS has been supporting recently. It was set up to help people with brain injuries and those that support them. In the last few months, money from OPS has been used to organise a number of day trips for the attendees at Headway's day groups, who all suffer from some degree of brain injury. Headway has been able to afford its attendees the opportunity to get out and about in London and enjoy the city they live in and your donations have a large part to do with this. To read the full report from our contact at Headway, Emma Jewell, please click on the title above.