PARTNERSHIP WITH PLAN UK ENSURES PROTECTION FOR HAITI'S CHILDREN
Article Dated: 30/05/12
Penny Appeal is delighted to announce its partnership with Plan UK in a project to protect the children of Haiti, many of whom were orphaned and displaced following the Haiti earthquake in January 2010.
Plan is a global children's charity that has been working for 75 years with children in the world's poorest countries to help them build a better future. The charity aims to help every child fulfil their potential through providing access to safe drinking water and education, and enabling families to earn a living and plan for their children's future.
Before the earthquake struck, Haiti was already the poorest nation in the western hemisphere. Over half of the country had no access to clean water and half of all Haitian children did not attend school.
The 7.3 magnitude earthquake exacerbated an already desperate situation. It affected around three million people; 223,000 died and over 300,000 were injured. Around four thousand schools were damaged or destroyed. Many children were displaced and some lost one or both parents, leaving them vulnerable to psychological trauma, disease, malnutrition, abduction, trafficking, abuse and violence.
Providing a safe environment for children in Haiti is Plan's three-year project, which aims to reduce the risk that these children face from violence. Based in the North East Department of Haiti, it is raising awareness amongst community members and improving child protection systems. The work will benefit 2,340 children aged 0-18 and will ensure that they can grow up safe and protected in their local communities.
Penny Appeal Chairman, Adeem Younis, commented: "Rebuilding Haiti will be a long, slow process and we are delighted that we are able to support a sustainable project that lays down a good foundation for the future of children in Haiti.
"We greatly appreciate the opportunity to work with Plan. The charity's accountability practices ensure that we – and therefore our donors – will be kept up-to-date on the progress of this worthwhile project and we look forward to seeing it succeed. In addition, match-funding from the European Commission has ensured that the funds raised by our donors can provide even more help to the children of Haiti."
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Penny Appeal appoints new Chief Executive Officer
Article Dated: 23/05/12
Penny Appeal is excited to announce the appointment of Mr Rizwan Khaliq as Chief Executive Officer, with effect from May 2012.
Established in 2009, Penny Appeal works to relieve poverty around the world and to provide orphaned or destitute children with an education that secures their future. To date, the charity has provided education for more than 100 children, supported relief efforts following the Kashmir and Haiti earthquakes and the Pakistan floods, and has recently opened its first orphanage.
Mr Khaliq joins the UK-based charity with a remit to instigate and deliver new fundraising campaigns and projects, and to develop new partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders in the UK and overseas.
Mr Khaliq has extensive experience and is well connected in the charity sector. He has previously managed several projects that have made a genuine difference to the lives of people around the world. Formerly CEO of the IF charity, he was responsible for its flagship campaign, Gaza 100, which set a new Guinness World Record and raised £140,000 to fund trauma projects delivered by Save the Children.
Mr Khaliq will be building on these experiences to drive Penny Appeal's growth and impact. The charity's Chairman, Adeem Younis, said: "I am delighted to confirm that Rizwan Khaliq has taken up his role as Chief Executive Officer. His appointment marks an important milestone for Penny Appeal and demonstrates that, not only do we have confidence in our ability to deliver projects around the world, but that we have huge ambitions for the future.
"Rizwan believes in our vision of making charitable giving affordable. He will play a major role in taking the charity to the next level, and I know that we will benefit greatly from his knowledge, skills and experiences. In turn, we will be able to help more victims of natural disasters, support more orphans in need of food and education, and give hope to the families who need it most."
Mr Khaliq said: "I would like to thank the Chairman and Board of Trustees for making me their CEO. Penny Appeal is definitely something special. We have a young, dynamic and energy-rich team here with a 'seize the day, fear nothing' attitude. This all bodes well for Penny Appeal and its development. Exciting times lie ahead!"
Mr Khaliq's first major project for Penny Appeal will be to deliver the charity's 2012 Ramadan campaign, Feed Our World, which aims to feed a minimum of 10,000 orphaned children and displaced families in ten crisis-hit countries during the last ten days of Ramadhan.
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Going the distance!
Article Dated: 11/05/12
A 13-strong team of "Team Penny Appeal" runners completed the Wakefield Hospice 10k road race on Sunday 15th April in aid of the charity's Clean Water Appeal.
Amongst the runners were Penny Appeal Chairman Adeem Younis and trustee Jo Marshall, both running 10 kilometres for the first time. All members of the team crossed the line, with Keith Brook achieving the fastest time of 51 minutes and 44 seconds.
Collectively, the team raised £1,546 - approximately £1,700 with the Gift Aid added. The funds will be added to the donations already made to the Run2012 challenge; Chris Marshall is running 2012km in 2012 to raise £12,000 that will provide 12 wells in 12 countries.
Almost one billion people lack access to clean water, and two million deaths each year are attributed to unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene. Penny Appeal's Clean Water Appeal aims bring clean water to those who need it most.
Adeem Younis said: "It is estimated that four percent of the global disease burden could be prevented by improving water supply, sanitation, and hygiene, so we know that our campaign has the potential to transform lives.
"I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who ran the Wakefield Hospice 10k for Penny Appeal, especially to those who had never previously run that far!"
Jo Marshall said: "The 10k was a great experience. The support of the spectators lining the route really helped to keep everyone going, and it was a fantastic feeling to cross the finish line knowing that every metre I'd run was for such a worthwhile cause.
"I've signed up for my next 10k now – the Swansea Bay 10k in September – and I have to say I'm really looking forward to it!"
Read more about Penny Appeal's Clean Water Appeal here.
Permalink: Going the distance!
Big thanks to enterprising fundraisers
Article Dated: 04/04/12
At Penny Appeal, we are always delighted to find out the varied ways in which our supporters raise money for our appeals and we are often amazed by their imagination and ingenuity.
Madeleine Oakley, a pupil from Tring in Hertfordshire, contacted us earlier this year with a donation of £45. Madeleine and her friend Olivia had raised the money by running a stall at their school's Christmas enterprise fair.
Madeleine said: "We would both like to donate the money to the Clean Water Appeal to provide pumps and wells to communities. We are glad that our money is going to such a worthwhile cause."
Adeem Younis, Penny Appeal's Chairman, commented: "The Penny Appeal team would like to thank Madeleine and Olivia for all their hard work – they really are an inspiration! We are very pleased that we are able to use the funds to help provide safe, clean drinking water to some of the poorest people in the world."
Permalink: Big thanks to enterprising fundraisers
Penny Appeal-funded Orphanage Opens
Article Dated: 22/02/12
Penny Appeal is delighted and proud to announce the opening of its first orphanage.
Mera Apna Ghar (My Own Home), situated in Sohawa in the Punjab region of Pakistan, opened its doors on January 1st 2012 and is now home to five orphaned girls, a house mother and her son.
The building is currently being rented by Penny Appeal and it took less than a month for the Pakistan team to furnish the home to a high standard and prepare for the orphans' arrival.
The aim of Mera Apna Ghar is to provide orphans and homeless children with important basics, such as a clean environment that they can call home, a mother to look after them, healthy food and clothing. Penny Appeal is also supporting the children's education with all of the children studying at Pakistan Science Academy nearby. Social activities are also an important part of life at the orphanage and trips to local places of interest are organised regularly for the girls.
This is a world away from what the orphans have known so far: the girls had never received any education and had not been allowed out of the house. They had no hope of breaking free from poverty and were likely to have become house slaves, serving in other people's homes. 
Now, thanks to Penny Appeal's Pakistan team and members of the local community, these girls are receiving a full quality of life that they could only have dreamed of.
There is room at the orphanage for five more girls.
Project Manager Habib Nawaz commented: "Mera Apna Ghar was founded with the aim of brightening the futures of orphaned and homeless children. I am confident that this orphanage will be a great success as we have secured the valuable support of prominent people in this locality, who have promised to support the home as if it were their own project."
Penny Appeal Chairman Adeem Younis added: "The establishment of Mera Apna Ghar was the result of a number of factors coming together at the same time and we are very grateful to Habib and his team for making this happen so quickly.
"It is very rewarding to be able to provide a home for these orphaned children and to play a part in their futures. We wish to extend our thanks to members of the local community for their support and advice and, as always, to our generous supporters."
Permalink: Penny Appeal-funded Orphanage Opens