We Recap Our S 25 Berlin Fundraiser for Chimbota Secondary School
How did our tutors and students get on in the S 25 Berlin race? And how much did they raise for Malawi's Chimbota Secondary School? We recap our fundraiser and announce the winners of our prize draw.
Head to Chimbota Secondary School’s Facebook page, and the first post you’ll see is a recent delivery of bricks being swiftly turned into a mill and an internet copy shop. Scroll down, and the second post shows a group of students completing a brand-new puzzle. Check out dBs Berlin’s [now Catalyst] crowdfunding campaign for the incredible Malawian school and what do you see? 10, 20, 50 euro donations stacking up to smash a 500 euro goal. What do all of these amazing things have in common? They are achieved, quite simply, by a series of small things brought together.
“I was very excited to be running for a cause! It kept me motivated throughout the entire run.”
Of course, the effort that our school relay team made to fundraise the final sum of 540 euros was anything but small. The five staff and students took their Race For Change to Berlin’s annual S25, running a seriously sweat-inducing collective distance of 25 kilometres. And if you read our interview with the organiser, Film Production Bachelor Programme Lead Gabrielle Szambelan, you’ll know that the just-over-half-marathon pales in comparison to the 20 kilometres per day Chimbota students had to walk for their education before the school was built. It just goes to show that it is the burning dedication of the few that really fuels the engine of change – and with that fuel, anything is possible.
“It was amazing to meet the team back at Olympic Stadium next to the Olympic Flame. It made us really felt like we achieved something worthwhile.”
The dBs Berlin [now Catalyst] dream team – Gabrielle, Adam Donald, Philippa McIntyre, Jonny Zoum and Chloé Kian – placed 19th out of 80 teams and achieved a wow-worthy finishing time of two hours, 11 minutes and 10 seconds. “I didn’t feel too nervous – actually I was very excited to be running for a cause!” Gabrielle told us after the race. “It kept me motivated throughout the entire run. Afterwards, it was amazing to meet the team back at Olympic Stadium next to the Olympic Flame. It made us really felt like we achieved something worthwhile.”
“I am so proud of our team and our wonderful supporters for all their efforts in making this campaign a success for Chimbota Secondary School.”
The post-run buzz got even greater when the team found out the campaign had been a huge success. “I am so proud of our team and our wonderful supporters for all their efforts in making this campaign a success for Chimbota Secondary School,” Gabrielle enthused. “I have felt a real sense of community spirit to make this happen. Thanks to everyone!” And, of course, she is already plotting the next race: “I am really thrilled about our participation in this campaign over the last weeks. Running the relay with the rest of the team was an awesome experience, and something I hope to do again in the near future. Actually we’re already thinking of our next run together!”
“I have felt a real sense of community spirit to make this happen. Thanks to everyone!”
The proceeds will allow Chimbota Secondary School to purchase much-needed educational resources for their teachers and students, and to help fund further development of their school facilities – the bricks and puzzle pieces that will come together to build a brighter future.
Those who generously donated to our campaign were instantly entered into a prize draw. To see if you were one of the lucky winners of either a tour of our school's facilitiesor a one-to-one music or film production session, watch the video with Gabrielle and Adam below. If you won, we’ll be in touch soon. Once again, a massive thank you to everyone who donated and supported, and best of luck!