Dear supporters and friends,

Our work has been heavily affected by the onset of the covid-19 pandemic. Although I was able to spend the first 10 days of March in Tanzania teaching and preparing for the Research project we’re doing in collaboration with Glasgow University, I’ve been unable to return to Africa since then. The issues in East Africa are very different to those facing Western Europe. The lockdown there has meant that all education has been suspended for the calendar year of 2020 in Kenya and Uganda. That means that over half the population have had their teaching and training completely stopped. There has been no school or University, no work and no means to earn money. Transport has been limited, causing food prices to rise. Famine and hunger have stalked the land and desperation has led many to suicide. Some islands on Lake Victoria have been unable to access any food and people there, isolated because of their HIV status, have been left to starve.

In order to help with these issues, we’ve been raising funds and sending money to the poorer parts of these countries to support the refugees, orphans and students. So far, we’ve sent almost £20,000 this year with £5,000 raised by donations and £3,000 raised by sales and sponsorship following various activities including a 210 mile walk in Wales I did last month. The remaining £12,000 we’ve donated from our earnings. These have been better this year, ironically as a result of Covid-19 which led to my being asked to resume full time medical work in the Hospital for 6 months. So at least some good has come from this. A small amount of money goes a long way and we’ve calculated that the funds we’ve been able to send have helped save several hundred people. One of the lasting memories from this period has been the image of the boys whom we rescued from the street in 2017 now taking food to the villagers from whom they once begged scraps of food in their former lives. Reversal of fortunes - you never know what’s around the corner, but these boys have seen it from both sides now.

So although the future remains uncertain for all of us, the children we’ve supported and educated for the last three years in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania remain well. Indeed, although their schooling is interrupted, their education in life has continued unabated. They are truly able to ‘pay it forward’ and have promised to ensure that they continue to do so in their adult lives too. Thank you for all your prayers, support and wishes - they make a real difference to very real people. These black lives really do matter!