News Release

November 2009

Wellie Competition Winners

Congratulations to Solomon & Seren (3-5 years), Libby, Amy & Lily (6-8 years), Kirsten, Bryce and Hannah (9-11 years) for winning Feed The Children (UK)’s Primary Schools’ Wellie Competition.

Our collage shows some of the wonderful entries that we received.

The competition was supported by several schools in South Wales and its aim was to raise awareness and funds for Feed The Children’s Jiggers Appeal.

“Spare a thought for children in Africa whose education is disrupted when they can’t walk to school or whose lives are being crippled by this tiny flea,” says Brian Main, Feed The Children’s chief executive. “I have seen the jiggers work at first hand and it’s not a pretty sight! You can’t fail to want to do something about it if you witness it.”

Feed The Children’s Jigger project involves health talks, sanitation campaigns and fumigation in 14 schools and 2,148 homes, helping over 13,000 people affected by this flea.

“The total cost over two years is £154,000, a small price when you consider the long term alternative of continuing to support children crippled by this preventable infection,” adds Brian.

To enter the competition, children were asked to design a wellie using crayons, paint, felt pens, pencils and any other items they wished. They then paid a 50p entry fee and their teachers sent the design and monies off to Feed The Children (UK).

The entries were divided into 3 age groups; 3-5 years, 6-8 years and 9-11 years, and were judged by an independent panel of former teachers. Our thanks go to Mrs Tricia Ford, Miss Joan Graves and Miss Sonya Palmer for their time and expertise in choosing the winning designs. The winners, who have now received their prizes of book vouchers or passes for family days out, came from the following three schools and a selection of all entries can be seen on the adjacent photograph:-

Cantref Primary School, Abergavenny

Windsor Clive Primary School, Cardiff

Danygraig Primary School, Swansea

Gill Edwards, Regional Manager for Wales and the Borders, said,’’ This competition really caught the imagination of both the children and teachers.

We had some wonderful, colourful, designs and a lot of thought had obviously gone into them. The judges had a difficult but enjoyable task selecting winners from each age group and would commend all the children for their designs. We would like to thank everyone who took part for helping us to raise awareness of the Jiggers Project and to the teaching staff for all the time and effort it took to co-ordinate it.’’

If your school missed out this time you can still take part by holding an in-house competition for us. Contact Gill by email to receive a wellie design entry template gedwards@feedthechildren.org.uk .

You can also help by donating today...