DEPARTMENT FOR
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT News Release (Reggie and Douglas go back
to school) issued by COI News Distribution Service. 5 March 2009
The Secretary of
State for International Development, Douglas Alexander, and Comic
Relief supporter, Reggie Yates, have today marked the start of a
new ground breaking education initiative that's all set to
make a huge difference to some of the 35 million children across
Africa who can't go to school.
For the first time ever, as part of this year's Red Nose Day
campaign, schools across the UK are being asked to choose how the
cash the raise gets spent to help overcome three of the major
barriers that prevent kids across Africa from going to school.
The amazing news is that, along with brilliant money raised by
school children across the country, the Government is adding an
additional £5million to be spent on this great cause.
Douglas Alexander was joined by Comic Relief supporter and TV
presenter, Reggie Yates, earlier today when they went to visit Sir
John Lawes School in Hertfordshire to see school pupils in the UK
choose how the cash they raise gets spent.
Using brand new Comic Relief teaching materials, the Secretary of
State for International Development explained the barriers that
many African kids face and helped pupils to think about how
they'd like their fundraising money to be spent.
Douglas Alexander said, "I'm urging schools across the
country to do something funny for money this Red Nose Day. The
Government will match the money raised in the UK to help children
in Africa get the chance to go to school. We've set a side an
incredible £5 million for this. So have fun, get fundraising and
let's make an even bigger difference!"
Radio 1 DJ Reggie Yates said: "It's been great to take
the lesson today with The International Development Secretary.
I've been really impressed to see the pupils choose where
their money goes. It empowers our kids in the UK and will make a
huge difference in Africa."
In Africa some children's families are too poor to afford
school. Other children aren't able to go because they have to
help at home when a family member is sick. And some are so busy
fending for themselves away from home that they just can't go
to school. UK schools are helping to break down these barriers
when they fundraise this Red Nose Day. Teachers can download
teaching resources to help their pupils make their choice from http://www.rednoseday.com/schools.
For more information about what Department for International
Development are doing with schools around the UK, see DFID, see http://www.dfid.gov.uk/discoveryzone/
Ends
Editors Notes
For more information contact the Comic Relief Press Office or the
UK Department for International Development (DFID): Dominique
Vincent: 0207 840 2527/ d.vincent@comicrelief.com or Helle
Nordberg, Department for International Development, 03070231722/ h-nordberg@dfid.gov.uk
* This Red Nose Day, the UK Department for International
Development (DFID) is matching, up to an incredible £5 million,
the money raised to help get the hardest to reach children in
Africa into school. This means your fundraising will make an even
bigger difference. For more information about what DFID are doing
with schools around the UK, see DFID, see http://www.dfid.gov.uk/discoveryzone/
* Red Nose Day is going back to its roots, asking people to Do
Something Funny for Money!
* The Red Nose Day fundraising kit includes loads of ideas to
help you Do Something Funny for Money! Order your copy now at http://www.rednoseday.com
* Comic Relief's vision is to create a just world, free from poverty
* Comic Relief has raised half a billion pounds to date, £420m of
which from the 11 Red Nose Days that have taken place in the UK so far.
* Comic Relief, registered charity 326568 (England / Wales);
SC039730 (Scotland)
* Comic Relief spends all the money raised giving extremely poor
and disadvantaged people in the UK and Africa a helping hand to
turn their lives around.
DFID, the Department for International Development: leading the
British government's fight against world poverty. One in five
people in the world today, over 1 billion people, live in poverty
on less than one dollar a day. Information Department 1 Palace
Street, London SW1E 5HE. Website: http://www.dfid.gov.uk
Public enquiries 0845 300 4100 (overseas +44 1355 84 3132)