The Schools and Health Foundation, an Irish foundation committed to improving education and health in Africa, has benefitted greatly from the support of Fórsa, with all funds raised going directly to projects in remote communities. A small charity making a big difference, the organisation commits 100% of its donations to projects.

In 2021 a grant of €25,000 from Fórsa contributed to the building of a school and teacher housing, and the provision of clean water, in Rothana, a rural community in Sierra Leone.

Separately, SHF had funded a school block in the Rogballan Madina community, also in Sierra Leone, back in 2020, but as school enrolment doubled over the last four years, an extra block was needed. As an emergency measure a temporary block was built from bamboo, which was totally unsuitable for tropical rain.. Thanks to the generosity of members, the union’s Developing World Fund contributed €20,000 to a new school block and in May of 2021 the new block was completed.

Last year, a new school block was opened in Tukuyu, a small poor community in northern Malawi at a total cost was €32,000, and €20,000 of this was granted by Fórsa.

At the opening ceremony the head teacher thanked Fórsa and SHF, and said “this gift will go a long way, generation after generation.”

One of her pupils said: “Receiving this classroom block means much more to me than just a simple object. It represents new possibilities, growth, and endless opportunities for learning. It symbolizes a place where imagination can soar, where friendship can be built and where knowledge can be gained.”

More recently, the Kalama community in Malawi benefited from a Fórsa grant, where a contribution of €25,000 enabled SHF build a school block.

International solidarity is a cornerstone of the union, and in 2022 and 2023 Fórsa donated over €1.3 million to global solidarity projects through its long-established Developing World Fund. Funded by 3% of every member’s union subscription, the fund gives over €600,000 a year to projects around the world, allowing the union to make ongoing contributions to human rights and development, as well as responding to humanitarian emergencies.

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