The 13th edition of the Tehlička public fundraising campaign for 2018 was entered in the register of public collections of the Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic on 23 October 2017 under number SVS-OVS2-2017/035609.

The gross proceeds of the collection amounted to 163,310.50 euros. The costs of running the collection were 17.49 percent. Net proceeds: 136,902.51 euros. With the funds raised we helped the local inhabitants of Korr to gain better access to drinking water and energy, raised awareness about the importance of education for everyone, and made concrete contributions to both formal and non-formal education for children and young people.

Directly involved in the collection were more than 99 kindergartens, primary and secondary schools and almost 36 youth and other organizations in towns and villages across Slovakia. All participating schools and organizations received promotional and background materials, which served not only the campaign for the collection but also as resources for education and awareness-raising in the area of development cooperation. As part of the collection, schools — with our consent — carried out their own activities serving its purpose.

Everything you supported with your gifts in KORR, KENYA — TEHLIČKA 2018:

1. A new metal water tank was purchased to replace the old rusted, leaking tank. As part of the project, unsuitable parts of the piping were also replaced with new ones and the necessary refurbishment work was carried out to fully restore it. Excavation work was done with the help of the local community, as part of their contribution to the project. The drainage system of the large hall and its connection to the tank were also repaired, to ensure that the tank fills up during rains.
   This part of the project significantly improved the rainwater-collection system for the Don Bosco Mission and the local community in Korr.
2. Renovation of the existing basketball court and spectator benches — implementation of this activity was delayed because of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The contractor is under contract.
3. Fencing of the football pitch with wire mesh. The football pitch had previously been an open space, where young people kept running into problems — in particular, balls were puncturing on sharp thorns. Young people themselves took part in building the football-pitch fencing, to the extent of their abilities and skills. The youth now have suitable conditions to play football and develop their sporting talent.
4. 150 metal chairs were purchased and delivered for the main hall. Metal chairs were chosen with a view to the high level of use and long life of this kind of furniture. Also delivered were 10 tables and 10 benches, the installation of a satellite, a decoder and the hall sound system — 4 centre speakers, 2 microphones, 1 amplifier, 4 speaker stands, a laptop, a 50-inch television and accessories for connection to a desktop computer. The youth in Korr now have access to a well-equipped hall and can also learn through study videos.
5. A modern-equipped library was set up for primary, secondary and even university education. Various teaching materials were purchased. A range of sports equipment was bought for indoor and outdoor games — including table tennis, a dartboard, badminton, footballs, chess… The youth in Korr now have better access to relevant study materials and games.
6. Equipping the boarding facility with mattresses. 100 mattresses and 100 mattress covers were purchased and delivered to the Don Bosco Mission. Improved housing for the boys and girls boarding at the school in Korr.
7. Programmes for youth — such as life-skills training — were carried out three times a year during school holidays. Each training session was 3 days long. The training was provided by the organization Stings for Life — Kenya, from Nairobi. On average, 43 young people, both boys and girls, took part in the training.
8. Improving access to energy by purchasing solar panels and solar batteries. The Don Bosco Korr mission is not connected to the national grid and therefore relies on solar energy for lighting. The project includes the purchase of 12 solar panels and 12 solar batteries. So far only 4 solar batteries have been installed because of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The original solar system was planned for a smaller complex of buildings, which has, however, grown by a food-distribution point, a kindergarten and a community hall, and has thus become insufficient.
9. Strengthening the position of women by offering seminars and training on: early marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), nutrition, natural family planning and the education of girls. Women in Marsabit County experience discrimination and insufficient participation in society’s development process because of cultural and social limitations in the community. This is in particular because of early marriage, female genital mutilation, dropping out of school early and limited access to information about their sexual and reproductive health. Several women, however, have overcome these limitations by joining up through the Catholic Women’s Association at the Korr mission and forming a self-help group (Fatima Women Group). The project worked closely with the leadership and members of this group as one of the ways to reach women in the community. The seminars were also enriched by the participation of a local health-care representative from Marsabit County. Women and girls shared their life experiences with other women and girls, and so enriched and supported one another. The seminars were held in the towns of Farakoreni, Lapendera, Lokichula, Legima, Ngurunit and Korr. Field activities were held on Friday afternoons — they included conversations with community volunteers about treatment and raising health awareness. The community appreciated the access to health-care services, because most government dispensaries are closed due to a shortage of medicines.
10. The project also included support for a group that wants to run a maize (Posho) mill in Don Bosco Korr. They provide a service that members of the local community need, and so secure an income for themselves. The proceeds from this activity will contribute to the sustainability of the project and will allow them to continue raising awareness among other women about the issues affecting them.

THANK YOU TO ALL DONORS AND PARTICIPANTS FOR SUPPORTING TEHLIČKA 2018!