To Dear AHEAD's Supporters

A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year to you and your family.
AHEAD is delighted to announce that YOU have raised £2,867.10 as a result of AHEAD's Bike Ride held on 5 June. AHEAD repeats its gratefulness to you for your great help. We'll pay the rent for the girls' hostel and save the rest of the money until we raise enough funds to start building the community vocational training centre. We hope that your support for us we'll continue to help us achieve our goal.

Some keen supporters have been asking us when the next AHEAD's sponsored bike challenge will be. We have the answer now, it's Sunday 17 June 2012. Please put this date in your diary and start moblising supporters and sponsors. Last, year you did it well and we are sure that next year you'll do even better! This year we had 40 cyclists, next year we are aiming for 100! With your help we'll do it!

Bye the way, if there is any sponsorship money you received late and have not handed in, please let us known and we'll make an arrangement with you to collect it.

AHEAD

Laptops Appeal
AHEAD is looking for used/refurbished laptops to deliver training to disadvantaged people in London and Ethiopia. The laptops will be used to train people in IT skills, basic/functional skills, employability skills etc. The laptops can be sent to:

Coral Jepson
Low Hall Nursery School and Children's Centre
Queens Road Community Centre
215 Queens Road
Walthamstow
London E17 8PJ
Tel: 020 8496 2442

If the donor cannot pay for posting the laptop, AHEAD will pay for the postage cost. For further information or enquiries, please contact Elfneh Bariso via elfneh@gmail.com or 0794 659 2607. AHEAD will let donors know as to how the laptops they donated will be used, as soon as the project will start.
To find out about AHEAD's activities, please go to http://www.aheadcharity.org/


AHEAD will run courses face-to-face and online from a community centre in east London. We are also raising funds to build a community training centre in a deprived area in Ethiopia to deliver training there as well. Once both centres established, we'll make connections between the two centres and also with similar projects across the globe. Any suggestions and support with the implementation of this project in terms of gathering resources and making links with various projects will be appreciated. AHEAD needs IT resources and some money to transport the resources, put the laptops on a network and connect them to the Internet; design and deliver the right courses; mobilise experts who can contribute to our efforts.

Thank you

AHEAD

Elfneh attends the "Together We Are Stronger" Community Reception at the House of Parliament















Dr Stella Creasy MP for Walthamstow invited Elfneh, representing AHEAD, to attend the "Together We Are Stronger" Community Reception, at The House of Parliament on Tuesday 21 June 11. The Walthamstow MP (centre in black and white)organised the annual reception to celebrate the diversity of Walthamstow which was held the evening in the House of Parliament. Dr Stella Creasy MP and the special guests: Rt Hon Sadiq Khan MP, the Shadow Secretary of State for Justice and the Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP, the Shadow Secretary of State for the Cabinet Office addressed the community representative and the guests. The speakers highlighted that event was an opportunity for people to come together in Parliament with such special guests and showcase the contribution of local residents from black and ethnic minority backgrounds to Walthamstow's future. Alongside a performance from local singing troupe Vocalicious, there were light refreshments and plenty of opportunities to network with other local residents and community representatives. The event was held in the Jubilee Room from 7 to 8.30pm. Dressed in his traditional costume, Elfneh discussed AHEAD’s efforts with many people during the networking session.

AHEAD Bike Ride in Pictures


Getting ready for the ride


Dr Stella Creasy, MP for Walthamstow, addressing the cyclists, http://www.workingforwalthamstow.org.uk/?page_id=2


Elfneh, Welcoming Dr Helen Pankhurst


Talking with Dr Creasy, MP


L-R, Teshale Joba, Dr Helen Pankhurst and Elfneh. Leslie Stowe (MBE), the President of Chingford Rotary Club, greeted the cyclists and gave awards and certificates to them at the end


Discussion time!

Leslie Stowe with two young keen cyclists

Elfneh chatting with Dr Helen Pankhurst after her outstanding speech to the cyclists and AHEAD's supporters

Concentrating on the challenge


Fun in Epping Forest


Gathering at the world's first anti-war memorial erected by Sylvia Pankhurst in 1935 http://www.exploringeastlondon.co.uk/eel/Woodford/Woodford.htm#Mussolini


Ready to go again


Coral and Elfneh checking plans


Commitment to building the vocational training centre


Clear efforts


Still smiling




A proud crowd


North Weald Airfield Museum, another treat to a very historical site for the cyclists, the end of the first half for the 40 mile ride. A line at the site reads: “We give our today for your tomorrow.”

Elmfield Road, The finishing line and party time!

On Sunday 5 June 40 cyclists joined AHEAD (Action for Health, Education And Development) on a sponsored bike ride in the charity’s quest to raise £10,000 to build a vocational training centre and support a girls’ hostel in Ethiopia. Leaving from St James Park, Walthamstow, the cyclists first stop near Peter House where they were met by Dr Stella Creasy, MP for Walthamstow near Peter House, who pledged to support AHEAD’s work both in the UK and Ethiopia.




Riding through Epping Forest the cyclists then stopped at the little known but unique and first ever anti-war memorial in Woodford where they were greeted by Leslie Stowe, President of Chingford Rotary Club. Erected in 1935 by the well known suffragette, feminist and political activist, Sylvia Pankhurst) in opposition to the air strikes on Ethiopia by the Italian Army, the monument provided the backdrop to a short but passionate speech by Dr Helen Pankhurst.




Thinking about what her grandmother might have said had she been alive, Dr Pankhurst commented on the diversity of the assembled cyclists (age, gender, nationalities) who had all come together to support a common cause - raising money for a disadvantaged community. As the speech over finished and followed by an ovation, the first group of cyclists returned to Walthamstow whilst others went on to High Beach and North Weald Bassett Airfield the RAF museum, where they visited. Heavy rain on the return journey failed to dampen the spirits of the determined cyclists who completed the full 40 mile ride.

AHEAD is grateful to all cyclists, supporters, Walthamstow Cycling Campaign, Chingford Rotary Club, Susan Howard and Pedalpoint who contributed to the event’s immense success. To find out more about the charity and see highlights of the ride visit www.aheadcharity.org. Donations to help meet the fundraising target still urgently needed.

Sponsored charity bike ride: Thrill for Life – The day you’ll never forget!

What is the event? This is a sponsored charity bike ride called AHEAD Bike Challenge England (ABCE).

Who are the organisers? The organisers are a Charity called Action for Health, Education and Development (AHEAD) supported by Waltham Forest Cycling Campaign.
What is this ride for? To raise fund for AHEAD to build a vocational training centre for very poor people and support a girls’ hostel in a remote part of Ethiopia. For details about AHEAD see www.aheadcharity.org

When is the event? Sunday, 5 June 2011, 8.30am-3.45.pm, to be followed by an award ceremony and light refreshments. See programme.
Where is the ride? East London; start from Walthamstow and ride to War Memorial in Woodford, Epping Forest and back to Walthamstow. See map

What will I see? You will see a historic monument raised by Sylvia Pankhurst on 20 October 1935 as a protest against Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia. We will stop at the site and the stopover Dr Helen Pankhurst, the granddaughter of Sylvia Pankhurst will talk to the cyclists about the struggle her family have undertaken for justice and equality. The media and some celebrities are expected to b there

You will also pass though fantastic panoramic scenes of Epping Forest. Did you know that Epping Forest is the largest public open space in London?

As well as being a popular area for recreation and enjoyment, it is also of national and international conservation importance with two thirds of it being designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation

Distance? This is entirely up to the rider; they can do the entire 40 miles or cycle only the distance they can manage. See the route map.
Support? You can be trained in bike ride beforehand; get advice; we support you with fundraising; there will be route marshals on the day, signposts, first aiders, bike repair service and supply of water. There will be an award ceremony and light refreshments at the end of the event.

With your help, we will try our best to make the event fun and unforgettable. We genuinely believe that your participation may make you be proud of yourself for the rest of your life. Thank you very much in anticipation of your kind support for AHEAD’s good cause. We will keep you informed of our preparation for the big day, Sunday 5 June 2011. Go, gooo for it! For more information Tel: 0794 659 2607 or donate@aheadcharity.org

AHEAD, www.aheadcharity.org, donate@aheadcharity.org, Charity no. 1109720

Fixanii - They have made it!

Hello all
I'm so thrilled to announce that Ruth and Gordon have completed their 750km! It is fantastic. I'm sure you will join me in congratulating them on their great achievement. May I take this opportunity to say a big thank you to colleagues such as Mekonnen Gutta, Tamirat and Ayele Iya for their generous contributions to the fund Ruth and Gordon are kindly raising for AHEAD/UDA. So far they have raised £1089. http://www.justgiving.com/Ruth-Jepson


Ruth fi Gordon deemmaa ifiin fixatani. Aka male itti gammannee. Isin hundinuu worri aka Obboo Mekonnen Tamirat fi Ayele'ee ka qarqaartani ulfaadha. Haga ammaa £1089 galchanii jirani. http://www.justgiving.com/Ruth-Jepson

Ammaafi nageyatti

Elfneh