An Update from RedEarth Village Schools ~ Vicki Beach
Last December we were able to maximise the value of our St Luke’s Mission Day gift to help with our Big Give Match Funding Campaign. This year fundraising for
“A Safer Hostel for 200 Teenage Girls”
Thanks to the generosity of so many the girls’ hostel at Bishop Willigers Secondary School is now safer, brighter, and better equipped — giving 200 teenage girls the secure place they need to live, learn, and thrive.
A Secure Perimeter Wall
A 200m, 2.5m-high wall has been built around the hostel, providing vital protection, privacy, and peace of mind for both students and their families.
Solar Lighting Installed
With unreliable electricity, solar lighting is essential. New internal and external lights now keep the hostel well-lit at night, improving safety and deterring intruders.
Fire Safety Measures
Fire extinguishers have been installed alongside existing smoke detectors, strengthening protection against the very real risk of dormitory fires – sadly there are too many in Africa every year.
New Bunk Beds
Additional beds have been added to the new hostel block, supporting growing numbers — including girls starting A Level studies this term.
Looking Ahead
A small amount of funding remains, which will support the new Girls’ Gardening Club with tools and plants, helping students build skills beyond the classroom.
At the same time, the school continues to grow rapidly — now reaching around 1,200 students. While this is a huge success, it also brings new challenges of classroom space and desks.
With your continued support, RedEarth Village Schools (REVS) will keep working alongside the school to ensure every student can learn in a safe and supportive environment.
This July we are delighted to be welcoming fourth-year students from the University of Bath (Architecture & Civil Engineering Department), the first of an annual six-week visit to support REVS work. This year, their work will include constructing a basketball court and training a local builder to use a soil brick press — a simple but powerful innovation that helps reduce the carbon emissions created by firing bricks.
Thank You
St Luke’s generosity and prayers are making a real, lasting difference — not just to the structural development of the school, but to the lives and futures of ultra-poor rural girls.