Page 24 - The Old Ratcliffian 2010

The Old Ratcliffan 2010 | Old Ratcliffan news It’s one of those places that’s forever such as this. I came to Lebanon not on. You’re holding politicians to being “reborn”. With the powder knowing the first thing about the account; you’re exposing truths that blue Mediterranean, golden beaches, country, my research reading never would otherwise go unheard. soaring snow-capped mountains and completed. All the books on Beirut verdant cedar forests, Lebanon is the scared me. It’s a tough gig, but I’ve no plans to leave the Middle East. I came out here Bible’s land of milk and honey. It is Now I can speak Arabic (badly), I planning to stay three months but I’ll also a place torn apart by war, by the fecklessness of politicians and the know my Hizbullah from my Hamas soon be entering my third year vicissitudes of religion. and I know what hard work it can be in Beirut. eking out a living as a member of My first apartment stood next to a the news media. Some people, when I have a friend who’s been in Lebanon lighthouse destroyed by an Israeli they hear you’re a journalist, clam up. for 15 years, having literally fallen helicopter gunship 24 months before; Some go silent, some tell you where into a journalism job (she broke my favorite café was the recipient of to stick your notepad. You’re either her ankle tripping down stairs and took up a sub-editing role to pay an RPG attack just 12 months before. viewed with suspicion or courted for medical bills.) I like asking her Six days into the job I was cowering with obsequiousness. on the roof of an apartment block as what will happen in Beirut tomorrow. “celebratory” gunfire rang across You never leave your job behind; the Her favourite response pretty much the Corniche in response to an secrets you know, the traumas you encapsulates the place: “It could be witness, the risks you run, stay with sunny…or there might be war.” election win. you 24/7. But with the responsibility Learning journalism in London, I comes the satisfaction that it is you had often daydreamed of adventure who is telling the world what’s going Tilinanu Another Year On! This is the continuing story of what one Old Ratcliffian has managed to achieve in Malawi by the age of 21. Tilinanu Today 5 days a week and support them as much as possible. Their weight, height and health are monitored regularly and it is fantastic to see the benefits which regular meals and a dry bed can make to a child. This is a vital part of the support at the Orphanage and for this comes through the Porridge Fund and ultimately from the donors back home. There is a fantastic large communal space where children, adults and grandparents can go to receive Alice’s Princesses education, guidance, help and support, as well as providing the Alice Pulford (05), now in her third her family, the first stage of space and structure for a medical and final year at Liverpool University, development was completed. clinic, which will be up and running has devoted every waking moment However by August 2010 Tilinanu within a year. to creating an orphanage in Llongwe, had TREBLED in size. There is now Malawi for the orphaned (mostly girls, a greater living and sleeping space Whilst Alice was out in Malawi last as a result of Aids), in that area. You and the number of girls staying in the Summer, she and her other volunteers will have read that last year, as a Orphanage has increased to 34. wrote a travel blog, which can be result of the huge amount of effort followed at: www.travelblog.org/ and fundraising by Alice and They also feed 175 village children Bloggers/Alice-Pulford/. Here is a 2