THE BUDDIES PROJECT

EDUCATING THE POOR AROUND THE WORLD 2011

I suppose by having my education disrupted by World War II this modelled my life until I found the Internet over twenty years ago – fifty nine wasn’t an ideal time to brush up my education, or my Shakespeare come to that, but that’s what the Internet  did without me noticing it. Spell-check alone was a revelation although I never used the automatic facility. The very nature of a good education contributes to your well being, status, and everything you do – which in turn influences the people you meet. Not that I’d want anything different because I’ve enjoyed knowing the people I’ve met, and the things I’ve done, and the education I picked up or didn't which shaped all that. So what am I beefing about? Well although my education was more or less self taught I could have done better - couldn’t we all? Of course at this stage in my life there’s not much I can do about it especially under the circumstances, but the older you get the more you reflect on past successes, and failures and how you still managed with that limited education. It wasn’t until a gentleman from the county I was born in phoned out of the blue after reading about my charity attempts to help others - then I began thinking farther a field. Did I mention I prayed for help? I promise not to go religious on you. You see he mentioned he’d just came back from Africa where he’d been helping others deliver some school uniforms - that was the initial spark that triggered off the project I’m about to tell you about – especially so when he mentioned his favourite dahlias were Collaret’s – because I’d grown quite a few last year, and had acquired an enormous amount of seed – the bees love them. So why not marry the plight of the poorer children in Africa to this dahlia by growing collaret’s for Africa? After all they tell us Africa is the birth place of mankind yet they are the poor relations when it comes to education? There’s nothing wrong with their brain power – I doubt if we would survive in some of the conditions they endure – the chance to be taught is all they crave. At first I thought I could link six schools in South Africa with six in the UK, but after a few emails hadn’t been answered I realised the better bet was to use schools in the UK, and any money made could then go via Unicef to any schools in Africa that needed help. I haven’t asked for help from the education department yet, but I know this is imperative for the project to be official and above board, but now so as everyone knows how the operation works I’d better explain a few details.   

The collaret is one of the least develop dahlias of the groups in existence, but complex enough to have three vital elements which compliment the project. First the ray florets around the edge of the flower could depict the sun’s rays reaching out to anyone wanting to learn? The central disc florets that hold all the knowledge needed, and the ruff or collar surrounding that central disc protecting that vital knowledge? Another thing that could enhance the title is if the names of the dahlias could have an African name as well as an English name to compliment each? For example Mandisa which means sweet and Richard could become Mandisa & Richard creating the projects title Buddies - this would portray an even better feeling of friendship. By sending packets of collaret seed to six schools in the UK to start with we could create a scheme that could eventually help every poorly developed country in the world? The seed will be sown, and grown on under supervision and eventually planted out when conditions allow - cultural instructions would be sent with each packet of seed. As each seedling flowers a photograph should be taken and sent to me for assessment – I’ll report back – I suggest this is done via email using the teacher in charge of the project.  On my judgement the plant will either be pulled up and destroyed or left to flower again – each will have a tag secured to the stem  stating - colour, number, and any relevant characteristics. When frost blackens the foliage the seedlings are left for two week before cutting off the top growth and lifting this is to allow the dormant eyes to develop. After all the hopefuls are lifted with tags in place the soil is washed off, and they are placed in a cool area under cover to dry. All this information will be on the cultural sheet that is sent with the seeds, and can be past on to the children involved – it is vital that the children are involved at all times.  After three days of drying in a cool environment they can either be bought back to me here at Little Wisley or sent to my distributor Nick Gilbert - according how far away the schools are and the cost involved I will stand the postage. Initially I desperately wanted the involvement of both schools in a foreign land and ours to happen, but as I said I have so far had no response from my emails to South Africa – whether this is because they are scared to get involved or some other reason I can not say. The last part of the operation is selling stock of the plants produced – of course I am in no position to do anything towards this because of my wife’s ailments, and the person who does the work has over heads like any other business, but I know Nick Gilbert will offer me a similar deal to what I get for my own seedlings - which is one pound for each cutting sold in its first year, and I expect in the second year I might get a similar amount from the pot tubers he produces – but this would have to be finalised. Either way I am committed to all my projects and don’t expect any payment other than helping others enjoy life – that way I also enjoy life.

THE BUDDIES PROJECT DAHLIAS FOR 2011

Each of the dahlias on this page will end up with it's own Just Giving page - just click on the flower and you'll be able to suggest a name for the one that takes your fancy. Remember the name has to a double barrelled  name separated by an and sign. Every donation of two pounds  gives you a chance to win when the names are draw just before Christmas. Should you want to commission one get in touch all are first bloom flowers which will improve when grown with the correct growing space.

CLICK ON THE FLOWER AND IT WILL TAKE YOU TO THE CHARITY IT SUPPORTS

Remember after donating  the name you chose and then your own name.

	Collerette 7. August 14th 2010.		Collerette 2. June 27th 2011.		Collerette 3. July 14th 2010.

	Collerette 4. Irene & Ken.		Hilda & David. Collerette 6.		Collerette 5. July 18th 2011.

All are supporting Unicef apart from Collerette number 3. July 14th 2010 which is destined for the charity African Revival, and Collerette number 6 which is supporting Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research. There are many forgotten countries in the world, and they are not all in Africa so if we can support them by educating the children then eventually they will be able to create a prosperous self supporting country - least that's the thought behind it. Education is the key to prosperity not race or religion - most times these divide - nurturing conflict, and distrust- come on, and that's from someone who had next to nothing regards schooling?

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