About E.C.A.T.
Set up in 2006, Esher College Africa Trust is an UK based charity (No. 1115651) that has two major aims.
- To inform Esher College students about life in Sub-Saharan Africa, and to provide them with a clear link to contribute to global development at a grass roots level
- To help as many A.I.D.S. orphans as possible stay on at school in order to acquire educational qualifications.
Esher College students and their representatives on the Student Council will undertake to raise funds through diverse activities throughout the academic year. Staff and students of Esher College will raise awareness of the varied development issues facing Sub Saharan Africa.
An African Teacher Writes...
Many Sub-Saharan Societies are adopting Western World culture and so the concept of the extended family is disappearing. The idea of orphans being taken care of by relatives is also becoming rarer, and grandparents often die, too. In many places we witness child-headed families, and so that child has not only to give up school for lack of funding, but may not then find sufficient work to earn enough to sustain the other children, for lack of qualifications.
An African Student Writes...
I write this letter to you. I am a girl who is HIV positive. I used to be very ill every day. I stopped going to school many times, and then I stopped going for three years. But I want to go on, and I want to pass.
My father and mother dies in 1995 and I was still young. I was always ill when my parents died. I am sure I was born HIV positive...
(Now I am back at school thanks to you) ....my classroom friends know that I am HIV positive. They used to laugh at me. But now it is better. I now have some friends who don’t laugh. My teacher helps. He sometimes gives me a meal.
Another girl is also HIV positive and we talk together. Our radio says I must be positive about life. I am positive. I want to go to University one day.
An Esher College Teacher Writes...
When our Esher College students hear first hand from students in Africa about some of the hardships they have to
overcome to attend school, I think it really makes them appreciate access to education in the UK. A few years ago my tutor group heard about two brothers who could only afford one school uniform, so took it in turns to come to school. This triggered some interesting discussions on the importance of education and their levels of motivation.
It is extremely rare to hear of a student at Esher who finds it almost impossible to attend college, either because they can’t afford it, or because of the burden of caring for close relatives. However, through our links with young people in Africa, our students are learning that in some communities this is commonplace.
Far from pitying them, the fact that young students in Africa are so resilient and able to overcome their hardships is a source of great inspiration and motivation for Esher students. It makes space to reflect upon and appreciate the educational opportunities that UK students so often take for granted.
The link between students in Africa and Britain is not a distant relationship heard about in a news story. This is a direct link in which Esher students support and hear directly from their fellow students in Africa. The work of the Esher College Africa Trust (ECAT) may seem like a small contribution towards the creation of a fairer world, but the effect on lives, whether in Esher or Africa is immeasurable.
Hilary Thomson, February 2010
An Ehser College Student Writes... 
The Esher College Africa Trust is the college's charity which aims to help A.I.D.S. orphans in the African states. The money we raise for the trust goes directly to helping the orphans receive an education that, without our help would simply not be possible. This gives each and every orphan the life that they desperately deserve. The money that YOU as the students raise helps to cover the costs of all of their essentials to provide them with a better start in life, including items such as pencils, paper, books and even shoes. Items that we take for granted every day.
Jessie Martin
What can we all do?
Current Students:
Contribute generously to any fundraising activity in College
Raise funds yourselves outside College
Ask your parents and grandparents, and relatives if they would consider sponsoring an A.I.D.S.orphan, or contribute any amount they can
Past Esher College Students