Donation of school furniture helps children in Ethiopia

Several years ago, the Lowestoft PBCC purchased a quantity of second-hand school furniture from the local primary school.  Some of the furniture was restored and given to a community school but the remainder had been in storage ever since.  The brethren finally decided to put it on an online auction site and had an offer from International Development Partnerships (www.idp-uk.org).

Plymouth Brethren donate furniture

Pictures of donated furniture

When we realised that he wanted this furniture for schools in Ethiopia, we offered to donate it, including free delivery.

Mr Chadwick of IDP told the PBCC “It is very kind of you to refund payment for the school furniture, which has now been received. We are immensely grateful for your generosity in offering to deliver it to us, also.”

On Saturday 12 April 2014, a local PBCC member took the furniture down to London in a single run with two of his teenage sons, by means of a 7 ½ tonne flat bed lorry, (kindly donated by a local PBCC business)

Plymouth Brethren donate furniture

Unloading the lorry

There were a total of 200 Chairs, 45 Tables, 2 Computer tables and 4 tray cabinets donated!

The trip from Lowestoft, Suffolk, to London, took four and a half hours. The PBCC were welcomed by Mr Chadwick and his wife outside their warehouse in London and spent about an hour unloading and palletising the goods. The furniture donated means that for the first time, children will be able to sit on chairs at certain Ethiopian schools rather than the floor as before.  Mr Chadwick told the PBCC that some schools over there don’t even have glass in the windows.

Plymouth Brethren Donate furniture

The furniture stored in the IDP warehouse

Afterwards Mr Chadwick showed the PBCC around their establishment to see all that goes on behind the scenes at an organisation like this. IDP supply not only furniture, but schoolbooks, mobility equipment, IT equipment, and even drainage and paving slabs. They advised that it is very costly to get a shipping container from the UK to East Africa and since they started 15 years ago they have only ever managed to send around 10 containers. During the credit crunch no containers were sent, and they are still in the process of packing out their first container since then. Obviously the container always has to be packed up as tightly as possible, which is a time consuming business!  They have previously provided a library container which serves 3 schools and are considering another which will be full of computer terminals, in order to help the children learn to read and use computers.

Plymouth Brethren Donate Furniture

IDP and PBCC – job done!

As well as donations of money and goods, they are always looking for help repairing items and loading the containers, and they were very appreciative of the support from the PBCC.

“Thank you so much for the tables and chairs which we received today. Peter and the boys have done a sterling job driving all the way from Lowestoft and offloading the furniture”

12 thoughts on “Donation of school furniture helps children in Ethiopia”

  1. cool says:

    james is right

  2. as says:

    That is awsome real testimony

  3. sumting says:

    Amazing to think that these people used 9 hours of fuel – as well as the donation of the furniture!
    I find you lot inspiring.

  4. *-*- says:

    Very good to not only give the furniture but to make the long tedious journey as well. Well done to those who made it.

  5. dunce says:

    well done pete,ernie and issac

  6. nice.. says:

    well done francis, was Joe to busy?
    well done Peter, Isaac and Ernie!!!!!!

    1. Splodge says:

      Yeh, he was probably too busy BMXing!!!
      How about next time organising a trip to actually take them to Ethiopia?
      (as if your Grandma would let you!) LOL 🙂
      Ace work though!

    2. boogey says:

      henry was probly 2 busy with his hovercraft or ginger beer or summink like that!!!!
      u could use H’s hovercraft 2 take u 2 Ethiopia!! (Eileen cud cum with u??!!)

  7. JCG says:

    True Christian spirit!

  8. Wheelchair Rocker says:

    Well done! It is amazing what you guys will do!

  9. JAMES says:

    That is real christianity – Total unselfishness from the PBCC – God will bless you for your real love for mankind in need.

  10. ggg says:

    Well done boys! 🙂

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