Building a Better Future

Morocco

Baraka was born over 20 years ago in a small village in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco when we helped out with some village community projects. A dozen or so years later we stepped back when we felt that we had reached the limit of our support. Fast forward to September 2023 and a devastating earthquake hit the region causing approximately 3,000 deaths and widespread devastation. Though Tighza was spared any deaths, many houses were destroyed or rendered unsafe to live in.

Encouraged by many of our supporters, we felt compelled to return to Tighza to help the village in its time of need. Over the next few years, we raised over £40,000 and helped with the building or renovation of over 20 family homes in the village. We also helped with the repair and improvement of the village irrigation system that is essential for the subsistence way of life in this remote community. In 2025 and 2026, we conducted volunteer work trips to the region and are planning a third in April 2027. The villagers greatly appreciated our volunteers coming to their village to offer support and solidarity, and roll up their sleeves to work alongside the community.

Tighza is slowly rebuilding and, in today’s world, is a reminder of what can be achieved when people work together. We are privileged to have played a small part in helping the village rebuild, but the real inspiration comes from the resilience and determination of the local people.

Laos

The Mekong River is the lifeblood of South East Asia, stretching for around 3,000 miles through 6 different countries, including Laos. Based in the northern UNESCO World Heritage town of Luang Prabang, the Baraka Book Boat and its team spend their days cruising up and down the river visiting rural schools, which are often inaccessible by road for ten months of the year. 

The boat visits at least 55 primary schools per year and each school usually receives 4 annual visits. Over 15,000 visits by children are recorded annually. These visits are highly anticipated by the pupils who run down to the river bank in excitement when the boat approaches. Visits by the Book Boat provide a valuable and vital resource to the schools as books are a rarity in rural Laos and the children have limited reading opportunities. As well as providing books, the Book Boat team undertakes fun and inspirational teaching sessions. These sessions may include important hygiene lessons for the children who live in areas where toilets are scarce and teeth cleaning is not common practice.

When funds permit, we distribute hygiene kits, as well as pens, notebooks and pencils etc. The Book Boat has been running for over ten years and is a hugely successful and sought-after initiative that we hope to continue for many years to come.

Zambia

In early 2020, the community at Kandindi in central Zambia had been trying to secure funding for a primary school for over 40 years.  Local children were taught by volunteers in a roofless shack seated on bricks on the ground.  

In January 2020, a young Scottish doctor, William Reid, lost his life in a tragic accident in the French Alps. Beloved by all who knew him, William, then aged 25, was just starting on a promising medical career, and planning his future with his girlfriend. In the aftermath of their terrible loss, William’s family and friends wished to commemorate him in a way that helped others. 

William and his father Hamish had previously travelled together in Zambia and had spent time volunteering at a school that Baraka supported. William had been deeply moved by the Zambian children and had wanted to do more to help them in the future. Hamish contacted Andy, the co-founder of Baraka, who knew of the Kandindi community and their long-held desire for a school; it was the ideal fit and the project began. The fundraising started with a collection at William’s funeral and donations kept coming in from far and wide. Initially, 3 classrooms were built. The community met and generously agreed to name the school in William’s honour. 

Since then, the school has gone from strength to strength; it now boasts 6 classrooms, 29 teachers, a learning support unit with a dedicated teacher, and clean water. These facilities have been funded by generous donations and bequests from friends and family, and various fundraising events organised by family members.  William’s dad Hamish and stepmother Anne, as well as his girlfriend Kirsty, have visited the school and received the most wonderful welcome.  William’s university flatmate Charlie also made the trip after raising £10,000 towards the school by climbing Kilimanjaro. These visits to the school were exceptionally moving; hearing school children singing William’s name and meeting the community who finally got the school they deserved.

 The Reid Family