St Mary’s Donates to Pens For Kids Charity

St Mary’s University, Twickenham has donated hundreds of pens to Pens For Kids, a UK-based charity that collects pens for children overseas who do not have access to educational equipment. In many countries young children miss out on an education because parents simply cannot afford school fees or school uniforms. Even in countries where education is available, a lack of basic equipment like pens are still big hurdles to overcome. Pens For Kids aim is to help young children around the world by providing this essential equipment. In addition to the donation to Pens For Kids, pens were delivered by the University to charities, Strawberry Hill Overseas and Community Concern (SHOCC) and Education For All Morocco. SHOCC is a St Mary’s organisation that brings together all the University’s charitable work with local and global communities. It is a way for students and staff members of the University’s community to work together in raising awareness of, and raise funds for, projects that challenge deprivation and poverty in the UK and abroad. SHOCC Trustee, Dr Kevin Cook, who delivered the pens to SHOCC projects in Kenya when he visited this summer, said, “The staff were delighted and wished to thank St Mary's for their kind donation. They intend on using the pens as prizes for good work in class.” Education For All Morocco was formed to help provide educational opportunities to girls in Morocco. Speaking of the donation of pens, Andy Phillips said, “The donation of so many pens will be of great benefit to the 175 girls who are able to attend secondary school as a result of the support of Education for All Morocco. These girls come from rural communities in the Atlas Mountains south of Marrakech and are invariably the first girl within their family who has been able to complete a secondary school education.” For more information about SHOCC, click here and for Education For All Morocco visit their website here.