A short summary of your project

Following the successful abseil event last February, in which DMU staff and students raised over £5000, the Square Mile India abseil returns for its second year and will take place on the 16th February. The funds raised last time round provided the 120 children who live in the Gandhi Ashram with food, shelter and education for 4 months.

Who are you?

My name is Derrick Mensah and I am the vice president of student activities at De Montfort Students Union.

This year I am leading the SU in a RAG week, a week where we aim to raise money for various charities.

Your story

I love to get active. Although I am not afraid of heights, this will be a good challenge for myself. I know for sure I will enjoy it. It will be even better because I am doing this to help raise money for those in need.

Where will the money go?

Our partners, Manav Sadhna, have five communities they support in Ahmedabad and one of these is called the Loving Community. This community, who were excluded from society, is made up of people who previously had Leprosy but no longer have the infection. However, they still suffer from the effects of the infection such as loss of limbs and the social stigma it carries, not only for them but also their children and their children’s children who cannot get work due to the outdated perception of the infection.

Every year during monsoon season homes in the Loving Community are flooded by extremely contaminated water and the residents have to resort to living in the local community centre for weeks on end. This year’s abseil is raising money to ensure that the two worst effected homes are protected from the monsoon in June by raising their homes above water level.

Help me succeed!

I personally hope to raise £400 for this project.