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Mayor Joins Forces With Rotary To Help Children In Baback
Chesterfield Scarsdale Rotary Club along with members of Clay Cross, Chesterfield and Matlock, were invited to a meeting at the Town Hall by the Mayor and Mayoress of Chesterfield in order to hold a fund raising event for the Mayor's Appeal.  (l-r) Bob Adams, Clay Cross Rotary, Neil Baker, President of Chesterfield Scarsdale Rotary, Mayor Cllr Alexis Diouf and Mayoress Vickey-Ann Diouf, Stewart Bradley, Eric McCarrison, Matlock Rotary Rotary President Neil Baker announced that at least £3,500 will be donated by the club towards a project in the Mayor's birth village in Senegal, to provide safe and healthy sanitary and dormitory facilities for the 'children of Baback' who must board in the town of Thies, the nearest secondary school to the village. Funds were raised from events including Ashover Car Rally and Abba Tribute evening for the scheme, which will mean that the students travelling to school have somewhere safe to stay where they will be fed and able to study. Mayor of Chesterfield Cllr Alexis Diouf told assembled guests that he was delighted with the donation, "Thank you for your support of this worthwhile cause. As many of you know I was born in Senegal, in a village called Baback. I was born into a poor family and there was no school when I was born. "When I was six, the missionaries came and opened a school. I was fortunate to attend that school but it was a long way from where I lived. I was lucky enough to do well in primary but clearly, in villages where you have to make a contribution, there were few families who can afford it, even now! "In primary school, my mum used to sell fried fish door to door and in my final year, my mum was poorly and she couldn't afford to pay. I paid my last year once I started teaching. When I started secondary, I had to leave the village at 11 and go to the nearest town where there was a school. "At the time, the only way you could afford it was if your parents knew someone, with all the risks that involved. Even to eat sometimes you had problems. I went to a Jesuit college where you have to pay. I was lucky enough to be seen as a potential and not pay. I was allowed to stay and do photocopies and prepare the sports field over the summer to contribute towards my education. "When I came to Chesterfield, the Mayoress and I decided that we would do all we can to make sure that children can at least finish primary school. Kids who go to secondary school have a drop out rate of 75% - they're bright but the situation is bad and they end up with nothing. A group of us got together and decided to build two dormitories, one for girls and one for boys - we pay all the bills and feed them. They have become very dilapidated. "Chesterfield Scarsdale were very kind and said they'd like to help children to have a decent place to live to finish their education. No one can believe the grant has gone through - on behalf of the people of Baback, my wife and I cannot thank you enough for what you've done." Neil Baker said, "This is our first international project. We are delighted to support this project which allows children to continue their education and enjoy accommodation that is safe, healthy and affords the students some dignity. This is a real partnership with the Mayor, our fellow Rotarian Alexis and the Baback Village Association." Listen to the speech by Chesterfield Mayor Cllr Alexis Diouf here...
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