SUSSED

Desmond Swayne hosted a visit to Parliament for the New Forest's two Green Flag schools, and for Wildern School, a Green Flag school outside the 'Sussed in the Forest' area.

Students spoke of their advocacy for Education for all, the global campaign to get all children into primary education. They spoke of their support for the disabled, a point much appreciated by Mr Swayne. Lymington Junior children, now at Priestlands Secondary explained their role in the Hope project in Kenya and gave Mr Swayne a book. Wildern School explained the difference that £500 had made to their project in Ethiopia.

In turn, Mr Swayne provided some insight into his new ministerial role in DfID and talked abut the current situation in Syria and of the support given by the UK government. Mr Swayne explained that he was grateful for everyone's support in the light of a degree of public opposition to the ring fencing of funding for international development.

Ringwood School invited schools in the area to enter their Global Education Challenge competition last July and the projects of Wildern and Lymington Junior schools were the worthy winners at the finals. Each school earned £500 for their projects thanks to Ringwood Rotary Club. The visit to Parliament was a personal thank you to the students at Wildern and lymington who had worked on the projects. Four of Ringwood's Global campaigners who had played a big part in the organisation of an Education for All day and the Global Education Challenge, were invited to join them.