Aid worker's appeal ahead of Africa trip (From The Northern Echo)

Aid worker's appeal ahead of Africa trip

11:06am Tuesday 7th July 2009 in

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A WOMAN from Darlington has appealed for volunteers to boost her forthcoming aid trip to Uganda.

Elspeth Robinson will head to Africa in September for her eighth trip to the war-torn state.

But the retired physiotherapist, of Upsall Drive, needs people to help with a shopping bag pack this weekend in order to raise money for her charity, the Kumi Community Fund.

Mrs Robinson's work focuses particularly on disabled children and widows, trying to rebuild lives torn apart by poverty, war and disease.

Mr Robinson said she was looking forward to seeing how projects started on last year's trip were developing.

"I always get to this point of not wanting to go back," she said. "I wonder if I have the energy to go out into the bush on the back of a bike.

"It will be OK though. It's a bit scary but I have more purpose now, now I know better what I am doing."

Last year, Mrs Robinson started a group for women, in a bid to help them out of poverty.

Once demoralised and destitute, the seventeen women of the God's Grace Women's Group used Mrs Robinson's £300 start up grant to establish a thriving poultry rearing business.

In September, Mrs Robinson hopes to use the women as a model for other groups.

She said: "It has completely changed their lives, one of the women came to me one morning and said she used to wake up thinking there was no future.

"Now she knows she has a life ahead of her."

In a letter to Mrs Robinson, Ugandan woman Consolata said: "Thank you for all the good work you are doing to help make the world a better place.

"Every one of the women seems to have got renewed strength and enjoy what they do."

The fund was recently boosted by a benefactor's donation of £5,000 to cover all Mrs Robinson's travel expenses.

This means every penny donated goes straight to helping communities.

Mrs Robinson will hold a fundraising bag-pack at Sainsbury's on Saturday, from 10am to 5pm, and is looking for people to volunteer for hour-long shifts.

If you can help by donating time, or money, please contact Mrs Robinson on 01325-465469.