Standing on stage, looking out to many wonderful, familiar faces. Faces that are glowing from the candlelight. Faces that belong to immaculately dressed people adorned in beautiful clothing, perfectly polished from head to toe. Seated at elegantly styled, well-built tables having just enjoyed a decadent dinner served on beautiful china, safe and warm under the roof of an exquisite private members club in London.
I think of Lumule and how far away it feels. How this is like another realm of life. How the community there don’t even have necessities. How education and opportunities needed to succeed in life are luxuries to them. I have no idea how I got this lucky, but what I do know is that I have a chance to give Lumule a voice. To make sure the community is no longer forgotten.
I take a deep breath and step toward the microphone, “Good evening, everyone. Thank you so much for being here; I’m Dennis.”
AN EVENING TO REMEMBER
September 12th, was an evening to remember at The House of KOKO, London – a private dinner hosted by Houda Ghazal, founder of Ghazal Paris to celebrate the launch of her debut jewellery collection, ‘The Amal Collection’ and to help us raise awareness of our mission at the Lumule Foundation, since she has recently been appointed as a Board Director.
“I strongly believe the foundation will be able to make significant progress with Houda’s guidance, and I’m so happy she’s joined us.”
– Dennis Okwera
Special guests such as Ellie Golding, Alex Eagle, Georgiana Huddart, Tiny Tempah, AJ Odudu, Philip Colbert, and Jack Davidson, to name but a few, joined together to enjoy dinner accompanied by surprise live performances from Vanessa Haynes and Malakai Bayoh.
I am eternally grateful
Thanks to Houda and the generous contributions from the evening, we raised over £5000 in donations – money that will be used to buy food to sustain the school feeding programme until the end of term, ensuring each child gets two daily meals to fuel their learning. And we may even have enough to put toward a motorbike for the team on the ground in Lumule. This will enable us to provide swift transport to the hospital for medical emergencies and to reach outer communities to enroll more local children in need at Lumule Primary School.
“The evening was magical. I am eternally grateful to Houda, The House of KOKO, the guests and supporters near and far. Opportunities like these give Lumule a voice.”
– Dennis Okwera
Looking ahead, our next project will be to source funding for a dining hall. A communal space where the children of Lumule can enjoy their meals sheltered from the elements, engage in social events and gather for assembly. The estimated construction costs are in the region of £31,000.
Would you like to help us make this dream a reality?
Together, let’s ensure Lumule’s children never go to bed hungry, never eat out in the rain without a roof and are given the chance for a better life.
