SANDBACH, CHESHIRE, UK – iAuctionShop Ltd has formed a sponsorship relationship with the Cheshire branch of Shine Africa in The Gambia and will be promoting their work with children and schools in The Gambia. Shine – Africa is a U.K. registered charity that helps support Nursery Education covering the age range of three to seven year olds in The Gambia, West Africa. As a charity it works closely with families, communities and the Gambian Education Department to assist Gambian Nursery Children. Ian and Glynn Jones from Weaverham, Cheshire visited a nursery school in Mandirani when they were on holiday in 1996 and found that it was in desperate need of a new building and educational resources. The generosity of the Gambian people despite their poverty inspired them to raise funds on their return to England for them to build a school. The need for educational resources became more obvious and the gratitude of the people who see education as a gift rather than a right encouraged them to continue with the project. Funds continued through many people’s commitment and involvement and when the school was established with furniture and equipment Ian and Glynn realised they were able to assist other schools in the Gambia, as they too had a great need for the ‘gift of education’. WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED SO FAR? · They have built and funded three nursery schools: · Mandinari Village Nursery School · Bundung Serrekunda Shine-Africa School · Saaba Shine –Africa Nursery School · They have upgraded 2 other nursery schools · Provided a village library at Mandinari · Upgraded the village clinic and provided equipment including baby scales, blood pressure monitors, stethoscopes, instruments for examining ears, eyes and throat, diabetic testing machine, crutches and medicine etc. · Have helped the local economy by providing locally made tables and chairs for the 3 nursery schools. · Provided school equipment for many nursery schools- exercise books, pens, pencils, crayons, reading books, counting equipment, footballs, various sized balls, children’s blackboards, chalk, teachers equipment, paper, visual aids for the children with number and alphabet cards, providing educational posters besides helping with much needed reading books. · Given out more than 3,500 mosquito nets. · Provided a clean, safe well for Mandinari iAuctionShop Ltd’s aim is to help raise more funds that will directly affect the lives of Gambian children. A £3.50 gift of a mosquito net will save lives, and a £22 annual sponsorship of a child will provide two school uniforms, annual school fees and a mosquito net. Further information may be found at http://www.rscollect.co.uk/Gambia/gambia_1.htm iAuctionShop Ltd trades as R & S Collectables listing over 5,000 product lines at any one time – mainly in the antiques, collectables and replacement tableware marketplaces, although traditional toys and games, jewellery and home wares feature heavily in their catalogue.