One of the Watoto Ugandan children

by Martin Jefferies

mjefferies@thekmgroup.co.uk

A team of Thanet women are to embark on the charity challenge of a lifetime as they help transform the lives of Ugandan children.

The group, from the Marlowe Academy-based Thanet International Community Church, Ramsgate, will travel to the country next month.

Their African adventure will take them to one of the three Watoto Children's Villages, where they will build a new classroom for youngsters aged between two and 12.

The ladies have already raised more than £5,000 for the project through fundraising events including boot fairs, Greek nights and a drumming workshop supported by Pie Factory Music at Westwood Cross.

Local businesses have been sponsoring bricks for the build at £50 a time, while Cliftonville-based Secret Garden gave a donation of flowers.

The group also plan to raise more than £6,500 before flying out to Uganda on August 11.

Kelly Wells, one of those about to embark on the two-week trip, said: "The idea for the visit came from a film about Watoto that we were shown at a conference. It showed the plight of child soldiers in the country and we all felt incredibly moved by what we saw.

"At first, we thought we'd only raise a small amount of the money for the villages. Little did we know that we'd be flying to Uganda this summer!"

She added: "We'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported us so far. The money we've raised will help fulfil Watoto's vision of young people changing the future of Africa."

The KM Group is supporting Kelly and the team's journey from Thanet to Uganda, with regular updates in the Thanet Extra, online atwww.thanetextra.co.ukand on kmfm, Thanet's local radio station.

FACTFILE

The Watoto charity was formed in 1992 through KPC, a thriving Ugandan church.

Since then, more than 1,500 children and widows have been helped on the road to a brigher future.

The three villages, centred around Kampala, the capital city, feature a community centre for school assemblies, community functions and church services, as well as a medical centre and a school.

Children are cared for by a 'house mother' and live with seven other youngsters.

Watoto also has a successful children's choir and staged its first ever 'Hope for Africa's Children' conference in 2006.

For more information, visit www.watoto.com.