ROWLING IN IT

SquareOne News

by Karen Combe

A signed JK Rowling book fetched over £1000 after being auctioned off at Napier University in aid of a clinic based in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

Napier’s Dyslexia Co-ordinator Monica Gibbon and Student Counsellor Frances McColm, along with students and colleagues, organised a fundraising event at the Merchiston Campus to buy medical supplies for the Clinica Esperanza (Clinic of Hope). A total of £2000 was collected through the auction, raffle and bric a brac sale.

Room B40 normally reserved for conferences was transformed into a fair with stalls offering home baking, complementary therapies, handcrafts and a raffle. Organiser Monica Gibbon said, “It’s gone very well this afternoon, I’m really pleased. It just shows how one moment of goodness from people can make a big difference to the lives of others.”

Former Napier student, cardio-thoracic nurse Morag McMahon will take medical equipment to the clinic where she will be working as a volunteer. This follows Napier tourism student Cinta Bravo, who has been working at the clinic for the last six weeks and helped instigate the fundraising.

The clinic was established independently in 2005 by founder Dr Nkomy with assistance from Dr Wright and other family members to provide affordable, quality healthcare for the local people in Malabo. The clinic based in the late founder’s family home relies on fees paid by patients who can afford to pay and from funds raised overseas. Run with limited facilities and supplies, the clinic according to the fundraisers is desperately in need of more resources.

Wendy Palmer a nurse and Masters of Information Systems student volunteered to help the clinic by setting up a web site. “I wanted to help them by offering a sustainable solution to the fundraising and as a resource for the clinic. The web site will hopefully be up and running by this weekend. “

For further information: www.clinic-of-hope.com

EDINBURGH MEADOWS FESTIVAL RETURNS

SquareOne News

by Pere Fornes

SquareOne can reveal that, following a two year absence, the popular Meadows Festival will return this summer.

The event, which ran for 30 consecutive years until 2005, will see a variety of stalls, activities and performances run on the weekend of 7 and 8 June, and for the first time will be run by the Meadows Festival Association.

The charity takes over responsibility for the event after the bank account and official documentation for the festival were formally accepted during its AGM in November. At a recent meeting, Linda Hendry, chair of the association said: "The Meadows Festival was run for 20 years by a family that decided to quit in 2005. There was a two-year gap and some people tried to organise it but this couldn’t be done until after November."

There will be different attractions at this year's festival, like stalls selling crafts, second-hand clothing and jewellery. Food will be available and local school children will participate in a football competition. There will also be performances, such as African dancers and a kids' area will offer face painting and story telling sessions.

This year the festival plans to be more environmentally friendly with a power pod being used for the first time to generate electricity.

Community councillors from the surrounding area are involved in the organisation of the event and are looking for volunteers to act as stewards, distribute programs or pick up litter.

A volunteer form can be found at http://meadowsfestival.blogspot.com/ or you can sign up at the Pavilion Cafe on the Meadows.

Applicants for stalls should send a stamped addressed envelope to PO Box 12758, EH8 9YP.

Photo by Daveybot