Fundraising night will help pay to develop skills in Ugandan village

Friends of Teso (Uganda) supports villages within the Teso district after thousands of people were forced into refugee camps because of violent attacks on their communities.

The event will take place tonight at St Peter’s Hall, in Bishop’s Waltham, and features musical performances from Andy Jackson, Wireless and Gallimauphry and the Dog, as well as poetry from award-winning Maggie Sawkins.

Pat Morris, a trustee of the charity, said: ‘We set up Friends for Teso in 2004 and it started off as a wish to help the children and it grew.

‘We have sent 13 containers of 40ft to Uganda full with things such as wheelchairs, bicycles, sewing machines, tools and clothes. Instead we’re now supporting five local projects because this will allow them to have more control over their development and allow them to be self-sufficient.’

The projects fund the teaching of dressmaking, chicken and turkey farming and a reading initiative for women.

Mrs Morris added: ‘We are looking particularly to raise money for digging a well, as eight million people in Uganda still don’t have access to safe water supplies.

‘There are lots of charities working in the Teso area, but as a small group of people we wanted to help and this is our way of doing it.’

The event is at St Peter’s Hall from 7pm until 10pm. Entry is £6.

Visit friends-of-teso-uganda.org.uk.