It is a well known fact that there is never a shortage of cake in the eDialog office. This has inspired us to put our cake eating skills to good use by creating a Bake Sale on the 25^th July in aid of our two charities, CODRA and Camfed.

Since the rallying for budding pudding masterchefs began we have been inundated with offers; ranging from the humble cornflake cake to a secret recipe Belgian chocolate cake.  Prizes will be awarded based on presentation, taste and creativity.

Keep an eye out for the results of the Bake Sale and make sure to check back soon as we’ll be putting up the photos of some of the best cakes and their owners soon after.

Last month e-Dialog combined it’s love of football with it’s love of raising money for charity by organising a Euro 2008 sweepstake.  All in all £77 was quickly raised for the Community Development and Relief Agency (CODRA) in Tanzania. We were really pleased to receive a letter (see below) this week from the organisation’s Chairman telling us more about how exactly the money will be used.

Dear All,

RE: Donation to CODRA, Tanzania

We have been informed by Tim Underwood of your company’s support for our projects in Busega area, Magu District, Mwanza Region, Tanzania and I am writing to say ‘asante sana’ (thank you)!

The recent donation will be put to good use buying some extra equipment, including baby weighing scales, for the CODRA mobile clinic. This ambulance was donated to us by Hampshire Paramedics in UK and visits rural areas reaching people with no access to local hospitals and clinics. It is attached to Mkula Hospital and also provides emergency transport to Buganda Hospital 2 hours away.

CODRA works in all aspects of community development including health, education, water, income generation and civil society. Over 70% of people in Busega live on US$1 per day, so you can see that our needs are endless and that we are really grateful to people like you for any support you can give.

Busega lies just south of the Serengeti, and borders Lake Victoria. Perhaps you should organize a staff visit and taste some traditional Sukuma hospitality of roast goat, ugali and tilapia! We would be very honoured to have you. Karibuni sana!

Yours faithfully
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & RELIEF AGENCY (CODRA)

Raphael Chegeni

Hon. Dr Raphael Chegeni
MP, EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN

e-Dialog included 4 new recruits to their line up with Chris Mack (Engineering), Bill Aldridge (BSA), Rameen Ahmed (Team Mercury) and Gary (Pixel Pusher) joining the team!

With an experienced back two of Scammels (Creative) and Stephen (Team BA) protecting Bill Aldridge in goal e-Dialog looked to build on their first impressive win! Early on e-Dialog pressured Walker Cripps into making mistakes and after a poor clearance James Richardson (HR) headed down for the soon to be departed Mark Carroll (Team splitter) to volley home from 20 yards off the post!

With Sian Libby Mills (Team Mercury) giving orders from the touch line it appeared e-Dialog were in control.

After good work from Mark Carroll, e-Dialog attacked and Dobson (Data team Infinity) crossed early for the preying Dodds (Project Manager) to back heel past the statuesque keeper!

Slack defending allowed Walker Cripps back into the match. After a speculative long range shot squirmed through the keepers hands, and a close range finish from their experienced forwards it seemed the opposition had made their way back into the game! As they tried to assert themselves on the game e-dialog scored 2 goals on the break, with Chris Mack clearing a corner to Doddsy who played a defence splitting one-two with Mark Carroll, and then beat the keeper!

Soon after Doddsy turned provider, a swift cross field ball released Dobson who finished past the keeper with one touch. However as e-Dialog tired, Walker Cripps came back into the game with space opening up in midfield. Their pressure paid off and they scored two goals in quick succession despite the efforts of the hard working Rameen, James and Bill

Edialog were lucky to finish the match with 7 players with persistent diving from Stephen, and Chris Mack lucky to escape a red card after bringing down the Walker Cripps striker who was clear through on goal.

As the game came to a close e-Dialog had chances to snatch victory, with the usually prolific Dodds missing a one on one, and Dobson should have done better after being released by Gary! Walker Cripps nearly claimed an undeserved win but were denied by the cat like reflexes of Scammels and Stephen!

In the post match press conference both managers praised the edialog team. “we worked very hard, and as a team against some excellent individuals. We won’t play many teams better than this, and we were unlucky not too win”. Walker Cripps manager added “the work rate and commitment of the opposition meant we struggled to get time on the ball and were suffocated!

Dodds 2
Dobson 1
Carroll 1

Captains Man of the Match – Mark Carroll