Wokingham

Local youth bands will be harmonious in supporting the Project Africa ’08, when a musical feast is held at Wokingham Youth Centre on Friday July 11.

After a year of fundraising to support the LEAP School in South Africa, young people from the Wokingham Borough, aged between 15 and 19-years, will be giving the project a final push before they journey out to the school in August and experience first-hand what growing up on the outskirts of Cape Town is like.

This is the second Wokingham musical fundraiser for the project, following in the footsteps of the Battle of the Bands event. All money raised from the Africa ’08 Concert – which will feature a host of local bands – will be used to fund the project.

The project is in its second year and gives the borough’s young people, the chance to learn about both British and South African cultures and history.

During the trip, the Wokingham teenagers will visit the LEAP School – which they have been supporting. Pupils at the school live in substandard accommodation and have limited learning resources, yet manage to attain 90 per cent academic pass rates at A level and an attendance level of more than 98 per cent.
The young people from Wokingham Borough youth projects have needed to raise substantial sums to participate and support the school’s efforts and this concert is their final funding boost.

As well as visiting the school the young people will take part in workshops with youngsters from remote towns near to Cape Town, to share experiences about growing up.

Richard Ferguson, Wokingham area youth work manager, said: “It’s great to see such enthusiasm from both the group of young people wanting to participate in such a worthy cause, and the bands wanting to give up their free time and support our project. If you do enjoy music you are promised a very entertaining night so why not pop along to the last fundraiser and lend your support to the Africa ‘08 Project.”

Entrance will be by ticket only, which cost £5 each. The concert will start at 6.30pm and finish around 10.30pm. A limited number of tickets is available from Wokingham Youth Centre by calling contact (0118) 978 3610.

Wokingham Borough Council