Kildare public encouraged to throw a tea party for Team Hope

CHILDREN across Kildare are being asked to support vulnerable youngsters around the world by hosting a tea party in their final weeks of school.

The new initiative is organised by Team Hope, the charity working to transform children’s lives by tackling poverty and inequality in African and Eastern European countries.

The organisation, best known for its Christmas Shoebox Appeal, has revealed that people in Ireland have donated two million euro in life-changing aid since 2010.

The ‘Team Hope Tea Party’ has a €240,000 target to fund vital projects such as clean water, education and income-generation opportunities in countries including Kenya, Burundi, Malawi, and Rwanda, where many live on less than $2 a day.

And the event, running this week until June 22, is not confined to schools, but sports clubs, businesses and individuals across the country are all asked to take part.

"Over the past 15 years, we’ve not only delivered millions of Christmas Shoebox gifts but have also helped provide access to clean water, healthcare and support for communities that need it most,” said Deborah Lowry, Team Hope CEO.

“The locally-based water projects in Kenya not only provide clean water to communities but also mean that girls, who previously spent hours collecting water every day, can go to school. There are multiple layers to the improvements our work makes to people’s lives.” Some of Team Hope’s other projects include the creation of pineapple farms in Rwanda, an income generator allowing parents to support their families and send their children to school.

Team Hope asks everyone to host a tea party to ensure that the charity can continue its grassroots projects in the world’s poorest regions.

Participants will receive a digital pack of downloads, including recipes and party ideas, as well as a donation page for their individual event.

For more information on how to host a Tea Party or simply get involved, visit teamhope.ie.