Christchurch farmer to visit Zambia village to help build mud homes and library

FARMER Paul Russell will be leaving the Fenland fields to travel to an African village where he will help build mud homes for its residents and set up a special library.

Paul who works at the family farm in Christchurch will be accompanied by friend Katy Hamilton and the couple hope the book and toy library at a basic school will give a little joy to youngsters.

They are appealing to readers for sponsorship and the donation of books and toys in readiness for their four-month project which starts in April.

Paul and Londoner Katy have been friends for around five years and as Katy is a primary school teacher she has access to children who have spare books and toys.

Their destination is a village called Mwandi in south-west Zambia where many of the residents suffer from HIV/AIDS. There are around 1,300 orphans in the village because of the high rates of illness.

Katy spent four weeks in Mwandi last year. She said: "While I was there it was heartbreaking to see the children with so little. They really don't have anything that belongs to them and compared with our lives, it seemed unfair. Since coming back I've wanted to do something that would benefit the lives of the children in Mwandi.

"By providing books and toys we hope to enrich their lives and make life more enjoyable."

Paula and Katy will buy a car while out in Africa and leave it there for the use of the village.

Paul, 30, is looking forward to the trip. He said: "Our task is to make a little difference to the village so the children will have something to look forward to in their lives apart from hunger and death."

• You can sponsor Paul and Katy through their website www.drive4learning.co.uk or if you wish to donate books or toys email Paul at wo1russell@hotmail.com and he will arrange to collect them.