Advocate swaps wig for hard hat in Ugandan adventure

Uganda is one of the poorest countries in the world and Kumi is in Eastern Uganda, which is amongst the most deprived regions of the country and is only just recovering from extreme food shortages in the wake of a poor harvest last year. Following the HIV/AIDs pandemic, Kumi has inherited a generation of orphans. Almost half of those living in Kumi are under the age of 15 and are all desperate for education. Schools here are bursting at the seams and are in real need of refurbishment.

Tim and family will be part of a team helping local builders to construct a new classroom in a local primary school, paid for with funds raised by the family (including their recent sponsored climb of Ben Vorlich) and others in the UK. The family will also spend time out and about in the community, assisting with activities for children at the local school for deaf children; and community work at a women’s refuge and the local prison. The team will also be running a holiday-club day for local children, providing craft and sports activities.

Tim said: “We’re all a bit nervous about something that’s well out of our comfort zone but it’s an amazing opportunity to see life from a very different perspective and, hopefully, be a very small part of making a positive contribution to the people we will meet. It is certainly going to be a change from Parliament House!”.

Tim and family have covered all their own costs but would be delighted for any donations towards Mission Direct’s work in Kumi. Every penny raised goes directly towards paying for building materials and the assistance of local contractors.

The Haddow family fundraising page is here