Raising funds to provide basics for African kids

An army of volunteers contributed to a very successful morning to raise cash to provide shoes for the children in Kahara Primary school in western Uganda.

A team of 33 from Charlene’s Project will be heading to Uganda shortly and one of the programmes they are focusing on this year is health promotion around “jiggers” prevention.

The children in this remote area are barefoot and get very sore feet through sandfly infestation. This year Charlene’s Project have a team of nurses showing each child how to wash their feet and they will also be spending time doing health promotion around “jiggers” prevention. The support and the money raised means the team can provide basins, soap, towels and shoes to each child. This will make such a difference in reducing “jiggers” amongst the children. The team were also presented with 600 Gym Sacs – one for each child in Kahara PS.

“We are delighted to be partnering with Madlug and Dave Linton” said Dr Dickie Barr. “Thanks to Dave and the very generous sponsor of these beautiful bags we will be able to give each child at Kahara school a gym bag which will be so special for them. Through the amazing work of Dave and Madlug these bags will also make a real difference in the lives of children in care here as well.”

Dave Linton said: “I love what Charlene’s Project is doing and when someone asked me to price up bags to be donated I was over the moon and so glad to be able to provide them. From this order for Charlene’s Project we are also able to give 100 local children in care a new barrel bag because no child should carry their life in a bin bag.”

Ulster Unionist MLA Jo-Anne Dobson said: “It’s always a joy to help and support a cause which makes a real and lasting difference to the lives of those who are less fortunate than ourselves.”

DUP MLA Carla Lockhart said, “ Charlene should be an inspiration to us all. She did not let her illness hold her back from living her dream.”