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OCTOBER 2020 NEWSLETTER

Covid-19: Face Mask Appeal
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic we launched an appeal to raise funds to make face masks and supply soap for 2,000 disadvantaged families in the informal settlements in Beira. We have now sent £2,000 to our sister organisation in Beira, ADEL, to purchase 3 sewing machines and materials to make 10,000 face masks. This will help mitigate the impact of the coronavirus and help create a longer-term employment and community resource. The appeal remains open – we want to be able to supply even more families.
Grade 12 students started school last week and shortly the Grade 7 students will also be resuming classes in Beira, Mozambique. There is now an increased need for face masks as children from vulnerable families start school. 

 
Students from Ponta Gea Secondary School
Moses Kakanu, Programmes Coordinator, for ADEL, told us, “face masks are not readily available, a family of five or six must share one mask, exchanging with another family member when they come home – the situation is really dangerous”.  You can donate via https://www.gofundme.com/f/bristol-beira-covid19-appeal We can also receive cheques made out to “Beira Fund” sent to Bristol Link with Beira, 17 Oldbury Court Road, Bristol, BS16 2HH. 
 
Covid-19
It is difficult to get an accurate picture of the impact and spread of Covid-19 in Beira and in Mozambique. The US Embassy in Mozambique has reported that, as of 1st October, Mozambique has 8,888 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 62 deaths. A total of 5,573 individuals have recovered from the disease.
 
At the beginning of September, Mozambique transitioned from a State of Emergency (SOE) to a State of Public Calamity (SOPC).  The SOPC will continue indefinitely at the red alert level while the risk of spreading COVID-19 exists in Mozambique and preserves many of the SOE COVID-19 prevention measures with gradual resumption of social and economic activities in coordination with health authorities. A number of prevention measures remain in place including:
  • general measures to prevent the pandemic, including facemask use and social distancing
  • continued quarantine, isolation, and hospitalisation policies defined under the SOE
  • closure of clubs, bars, and informal stalls which sell alcoholic beverages
  • suspension of team sport activities
  • reduced hours of operation for markets
  • passenger limits for buses, vans, and other methods of public transportation
Gift Aid
We are currently looking to claim Gift Aid on donations to our appeal to support Beira last year following the destruction caused by Cyclone Idai.  This will allow Bristol Link with Beira (BLB) to claim an extra 25% from HMRC on your donation at no cost to yourself. If you made a donation you should have received an email from us with a Gift Aid form to be completed. If you have yet to complete the form we’d be grateful if you can do so and send it back to BLB via info.bwithbeira@gmail.com If you’re unsure how much you donated or need to clarify anything please contact us as above or our Treasurer, Steve Strong on stevemstrong@hotmail.com
 
World Toilet Day: 19th November
World Toilet Day is an official United Nations international observance day to inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis. Worldwide, 4.2 billion people live without "safely managed sanitation" and around 673 million people practice open defecation. Sustainable Development Goal 6 aims to "Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all". The theme of World Toilet Day 2020 is “Toilets For All. Leaving No One Behind”. 
 
We will be sending out further details nearer the 19th November on the work BLB is doing with the Bio Factory, the University of the West of England and other partners to look at the development and installation of prefabricated toilets in schools and informal settlements in Beira. The toilet system designed by BioFactory includes sanitary toilets converting the gases from the waste into bio cooking gas and the solid waste into organic fertiliser.

Look, Like & Share
You can now find out about the work of BLB and news from Beira via a number of social media platforms including:
Facebook        https://www.facebook.com/bristolbeiralink/
Twitter             https://twitter.com/beiraperson
Linkedin          https://www.linkedin.com/company/blb-bristol-link-with-beira/
Instagram        https://www.instagram.com/beiralink/
We also have a website https://bristolbeiralink.org/
 
Getting Involved
We’re looking for people to get involved with our working groups,who now hold regular meetings to help to take forward the work of BLB. If you’re interested in:
  • fundraising;
  • education;
  • project development; and/or
  • operations including communications 
and have some spare time to help out please contact Dave Spurgeon davespurgeon@blueyonder.co.uk or info.bwithbeira@gmail.com
We can also receive cheques made out to “Beira Fund” sent to Bristol Link with Beira, 17 Oldbury Court Road, Bristol, BS16 2HH.  
Bristol Link with Beira is a project of Southern Africa Resources Centre
Charity Number 1000003
 
 
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