V-Flyer

In my spare time I help to run a non-profit making organisation which rases money to provide a basic education for the 70 million children who do not receive one and therefore cannot read or write.

Our organisation, Primary Education for All [please visit http://www.primaryeducationforall.org.uk for more details] is currently in the process of planning a trip to Uganda for July and August 2010. We need the following help/advice:

(i) Donations to help us cover the costs of the trip [as soon as we have raised 5,000 we can apply for charitable status];
(ii) Basic scholastic equipment e.g. pens; pencils; paper etc. to take out as the schools do not even have the money to buy these;
(iii) Advice on travelling to Uganda including how to get the best deal on flights.

If you would like to help or have any questions please PM me.

Regarding flights, have you contacted any airlines? I believe BA fly to Entebbe and would have thought it was worth asking them if they'd consider a healthy discount as the flights are for not-for-profit charity? Of course they may do nothing but its worth a shot.

Good luck with the project [y]

Thanks,
Sarah

For pens, pencils etc. Try contacting the big office stationary companies like Viking and see what they can do. They might be able to donate over-ordered returns etc. as they cost money to be returned to stock. Also, any large local companies might be able to order some boxes for you as it costs them much less than shops.

Generally, I've found it easier and more successful to ask for thing that office use lots of rather than simply asking for money.

Yes BA are the only airline which fly direct to Uganda.

I have tried the official channels for getting reduced priced flights from BA and have been politely refused; however I may have the possibility of an 'unofficial' channel which I have yet to explore.