A good night for a good cause in Bratton

The Bratton Big Night Out is happening on Saturday 5th July at Bratton Baptist Church. 

The evening kicks off at 6.00pm and is primarily a fundraiser for the charity FOMO (Friends of Mulanje Orphans), a cause supported by the church and local residents for nearly 10 years.

This event, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of Malawi’s independence on the 6th July, is aimed at all ages and will include: local musical talent, a silent auction, a barbecue (weather permitting), a brief recap on the ongoing work of FOMO, drinks and nibbles and the opportunity to meet some of the members of the church who have visited Malawi on several occasions.

The evening is free; a donation to the work of FOMO is entirely optional. Proceeds from the evening will go towards to cost of building two hostels for FOMO’s secondary age students.

FOMO started in the year 2000 with 20 orphans to care for in an area of Malawi called Mulanje. It is an area of outstanding beauty but appalling poverty. Today the number of orphans it cares for has escalated to over 5000. Their key objectives are to feed, clothe and educate the children and to address health issues such as TB, malaria and HIV.

Education can lift children out of poverty, and is therefore very important to them. FOMO has recently opened a secondary school (it already has pre-schools and supports education from primary through to college and even university) but the senior students can often find themselves in dangerous situations, vulnerable to physical attack on the long walk to school, which is often up to 10 miles over difficult terrain.

To keep them safe the charity is looking to build, equip and maintain two hostels for the young people. This will provide a safe place of rest after a day at school. These hostels will run during term-time and will offer a quiet sanctuary for a good night’s sleep and the space to do more study in the evening.

The organisers said, “Please do join us for our Malawian theme evening whether you have supported the work of FOMO in the past or are interested in hearing more about this vital and worthwhile cause – a warm welcome awaits.

“For further details please email: simon@brattonbap tistchurch.org.uk or call into the White Horse Pottery where Trevor Pictor will be happy to chat to you.”