PEOPLE from Llanfyllin and beyond have been praised for donating thousands of pounds to improve the lives of impoverished African children.

Dolen Ffermio received £8,114 through its Christmas catalogue for orphans and needy children in rural Eastern Uganda.

Children do not go into orphanages in this part of Uganda but are taken in and cared for by their extended families – no matter how poor – they are but it is a struggle for them.

The catalogue offered the chance for people to buy various items as gifts for the youngsters including school uniforms, stationery, seeds, mosquito nets and goats for the community.

Project co-ordinator Val Talbot said: “This sum will enable the project to recruit a further 30 children in 2019 and they will be given a whole package of support fort three years like all the other children on the project so that they can start building an income and get the most out of their schooling.

"Since 2012, 230 children in Ngora have each been given uniforms, shoes and stationery to keep them in school; mosquito nets to protect them from malaria; training in a wide range of valuable income generating skills and gifts of livestock and seeds to help them build sustainable livelihoods. These gifts transform the children’s lives and give them hope for the future."

Moses Ekoi, the leader of the Ngora project, also sent his heartfelt thanks, adding that the children can now look forward to a “brighter future”.

Val added: “I’m sure you know by now that we are all unpaid volunteers in the UK and that every penny raised is destined for the project and please don’t forget that the fundraising continues throughout the year, with gift cards available for birthdays, weddings and other special occasions.

"With our very grateful thanks to Rachael Sharpe, our new volunteer organiser, who has worked so hard to deal with the donations. Thanks also to David Goodman and Cordelia Weedon for designing the catalogue for the last four years, Emyr Owen for Welsh translations and to volunteers and members who helped distribute catalogues and raise funds”.

To contribute, please send a cheque payable to Dolen Ffermio to Rachael at Fronlas Fach, Foel, Welshpool SY21 0NY or email res13@hotmail.co.uk

For more information visit our website dolenffermio.org.uk, Twitter as @dolenffermio or Facebook as Dolen Ffermio.