Fundraising Fun - Spring 2021

As Spring arrives and we launch ourselves into a brave new season, we continue to work towards a compassionate new world where the connections between people around the world are fostered and respected. Education is the cornerstone of creating a world where we all thrive, and to reach the UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 we need to expand the reach of our projects, so we can help more children access education. To make this happen, we need you to invest in education.


The story of what we do is told through our projects. These projects are designed by educators around the world to solve the direct problems they face in a sustainable way. The Foundation facilitates these projects to get them started and become sustainable.



Access to Education

In rural areas some children walk a long way to school every day, sometimes up to 5 miles each way. If a child walks 50 miles per week and the school terms add up to 18 weeks, that’s 900 miles a year. That’s the equivalent of walking the entire length of the U.K. every year. 

I (Lucy Lee) wanted to know what that would be like, so I decided to walk or cycle 50 miles per week on a (Covid safe and virtual) Conqueror Challenge from Lands End to John O’Groats which is 1083 miles. It takes me 3hrs 30mins to walk 10 miles (although I need a break in the middle so it’s more like 4 hours!) that’s a lot of time in the day on top of school and other work that children might help with. It takes me 1hour and 30mins to cycle the same distance, and uses a lot less energy. 

The teachers in these remote schools in The Gambia are very keen for every child who walks a long way to school to have a bicycle so that they can get there on time and not be too tired to study. That’s why I’m doing this challenge as a fundraising activity. I’m aiming to raise money for 100 bicycles. Find out how many miles I have gone, and how many bikes I’ve raised money for so far on my fundraising page here.

Education Dialogue

The most powerful way to understand the challenges to accessing education is to talk to someone who has had these challenges themselves. When this is made as a documentary film, then more people can understand and be moved by the situations that prevent access to education. Until we have heard these stories, it’s just numbers on a page. Stories give us the human connection, and the urgency to do something about it.


That’s why we are showing a series of inspiring films over the coming months that help us to connect and understand others, and are moving testaments of hope that we all need right now. These films rekindle the spark of the importance of education for everyone everywhere. You can register to watch the films here:


I Am Belmaya, and a Live Q&A with director Sue Carpenter

This documentary follows an uneducated young Dalit woman’s transformational journey from subjugated wife to award-winning documentary filmmaker.


Madan Sara, by Etant Dupain

A documentary telling the stories of the women known as Madan Sara in Haiti who work tirelessly to buy, distribute, and sell food in markets through the country. Despite facing intense hardship and social stigma, they work to put their children through school and house their families.


Emu Runner, by Imogen Thomas

The story of an 8-year-old indigenous Australian girl dealing with her mother’s death by forging a bond with a wild emu. This heart-warming family film will educate and motivate the audience to learn more about children reaching their potential while overcoming adversity.


Resources for Educators

We have hosted 25 Life Long Learning webinars now, and they have evolved into 3 themes; Supporting Teaching and Learning, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Creativity and Entrepreneurship. We have been so grateful to the many educators who have given their time freely to promote learning and personal development with us.


The feedback so far is that the webinars have been a useful resource for educators and they have also helped to raise awareness of the digital divide experienced by learners around the world. The funds raised from these webinars support the learning resource centres, literacy resources and projects to combat the digital divide such as supplying solar radios to students in The Gambia during lockdown.


We have more great webinars coming up so please book onto them here.


We believe education gives people choices and that is why it is our mission to share learning at every opportunity.


Something Good to Share

You might have noticed on social media that the Foundation has set up a charity gift shop, which you can find here.


These are the perfect gifts for anyone who is looking for sustainable giving. A gift that has no plastic packaging, no transport costs, doesn’t take up space, and will never be an unwanted gift. These gifts keep on giving and each one has environmental sustainability build into it, as well as the ‘fishing rod’ of being able to access education.


This morning Ann, our CEO, was amazed to receive a gift certificate in her inbox. Someone had given her the gift of a bicycle, “the best gift possible” she said.



Buying someone the gift of education doesn’t have to be for a special celebration, it can be just because it is a good thing to do, and to say “thank you” to someone.


Thank you for reading this post, and please do get involved in any of the fundraising activities we are doing above. Please also leave a comment to tell us what fundraising activities you have enjoyed with us so far.


Steve Sinnott • April 20, 2021

Empowering Student Voices: Young Ambassadors Champion Inclusive Education for All

By Ann Beatty • October 13, 2025
In our continued commitment to ensuring quality and inclusive education for every child, we’ve taken our advocacy to a new level by empowering the next generation to lead the conversation. In partnership with The Gambia Teachers Union, we recently convened the Foundation’s Young Ambassadors for a vibrant day of engagement dedicated to promoting the right to education for all. The event brought together passionate students from selected senior secondary schools across Region One, including St. John’s School for the Deaf, to explore what it truly means to make education inclusive, equitable, and accessible to every learner. 

Seeds of Hope 2025: Young People Planting Peace and Sustainability Around the World

By Ann Beatty • October 3, 2025
The Steve Sinnott Foundation is proud to celebrate the inspirational winners of the 2025 Seeds of Hope for a Better Future competition, a global initiative supported by UNESCO that brings together creativity, community, and a shared commitment to peace and sustainability. This unique project invited schools across the world from nursery and primary through to secondary and high school to explore the values of peace, cultural understanding, and care for the planet. In the face of climate change, young people were asked to tell their stories through art, performance, and digital creativity, highlighting how small seeds of action can grow into powerful movements for hope. The results have been extraordinary. Schools in France, the UK, Gambia, Haiti, and Kenya have been recognised for their outstanding contributions, with projects ranging from community gardens and sculptures to dance performances and illustrated stories. Each winner has shown how young voices and imagination can nurture peace and sustainability in ways that inspire us all. The full Awards Ceremony can be watched linked here: S eeds of Hope For A Better Future Awards Ceremony 2025 Highlights from the Winners Oak View Primary and Nursery School (UK) created Faces of Feeling, a collection of joyful sculptures already exhibited in a local gallery. Judges praised their work as supporting the wellbeing of others and embodying the idea of children as true “Seeds of Hope.” St Joseph’s Senior Secondary School (Gambia) painted Campaign for a Sustainable Banjul , reflecting real-world climate action in their city. The judges described it as “a most deserving and robust winner.” In France , the Jardin d'Enfants des Nations Unies (United Nations Nursery School) won hearts with Wind of Peace , where 5-6 year olds combined drawings, paintings, and tree planting to champion reforestation. Lyng Hall Secondary School, Coventry (UK) collaborated with Henley Green Primary and the UK Literacy Association to produce The Heart Shaped Hole – an innovative and metaphorical take on Seeds of Hope. Earlsdon Primary School, Coventry (UK) impressed with Primary Plot , a project that included gardening with the visually impaired, reflecting inclusivity and sustainability. A remarkable cross-collaboration between 21 schools across West Yorkshire, Essex, and Tower Hamlets (UK) resulted in Lights, Camera, Score , an ambitious combination of animation, music, and storytelling. CIMA Community School of Hope, Haiti shared Konbit - a video of dance and solidarity, inspiring villages to work together for peace and dignity. Daraja Academy, Kenya presented an ambitious and optimistic project integrating sustainability into everyday school life. Celebrating Creativity and Peace This year’s competition was judged by an impressive panel of artists, writers, and cultural leaders including Sir Antony Gormley, Edmund de Waal, Dame Liz Forgan, Hugh Quarshie, and Rathna Ramanathan. Their collective expertise highlighted the quality and depth of the entries, each of which showed how art can be a powerful tool for global understanding and change. The Seeds of Hope initiative is part of UNESCO UK’s Arts and Culture for Peace programme, first launched in 2022. It has grown from earlier collaborations such as the Coventry Young Ambassadors’ Islands of Peace Japanese Garden , opened in 2021 a living reminder that seeds planted in communities can continue to flourish. Highlights from the ceremony can be found here at this playlist Looking Ahead As Ann Beatty, UNESCO ASPnet UK National Coordinator , shared: “The quality of entries was extraordinary. We are delighted at the response to this amazing initiative in collaboration with our international partners.” And in the words of judge Jannette Cheong : “Young people around the world understand well the value of peace and tolerant relationships between cultures. Their creativity is an inspiration to all of us.” At The Steve Sinnott Foundation, we believe that education is the seed from which hope grows. The Seeds of Hope competition is a shining example of how young people through creativity, compassion, and collaboration are already shaping a more peaceful and sustainable future. You can access the full online awards presentation here: Seeds of Hope For A Better Future Awards Ceremony 2025

Teachers Advance in Guidance and Counselling Training in The Gambia

By Ann Beatty • August 18, 2025
The journey to strengthen the well-being and success of learners in The Gambia continues with a renewed commitment to guidance and counselling in schools. By August 14th 2025, we have successfully trained 140 educators across 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝟏, 𝟐, 𝟑 & 𝟒 under our Guidance & Counselling Programme. A programme designed to equip educators with the skills to support students’ academic, social, and emotional development. Region 3 Teachers Complete Level 2 Training On Wednesday, 6th August, thirty teachers from Region 3 (North Bank Region) began a three-day Level 2 Guidance and Counselling training at the Christian Council in Kanifing. This programme built on their earlier Level 1 training in Farafenni, with a focus on deepening their capacity to serve as school-based counsellors. The training concluded with a certificate presentation ceremony, recognising the teachers’ commitment and marking an important step in their professional development. These certificates symbolize more than an achievement; they represent each teacher’s readiness to provide psychosocial support, guidance, and mentorship to learners across their schools.