In June 2019, I will be visiting Umoja in Eastern Tanzania, and I will be accompanied by another Rotarian from Braunton Caen Rotary. The Umoja Centre provides education and welfare support to the most vulnerable young people in Tanzania. Depending on their academic performance, skills and career choice, they are supported through either vocational training, college, or university. This project enables the students to gain control over their lives, improve self-confidence and find meaningful employment.

Our Rotary Club of Braunton Caen has a special interest in UMOJA, and we have been sponsoring students since 2013. In 2015, as part of a social enterprise programme, our club provided funding towards the cost of sewing machines and training in sewing skills, product development and marketing.

While at Umoja, I will be assisting them with social media and marketing, and I will prepare promotional videos to help publicise the charity. I want to engage with the students to better my understanding of their aspirations for the future, some of whom will also be studying a degree like myself. In addition, I plan to take a group of students to the local Rotary Clubs in Arusha, Tanzania, in an attempt to forge a link between UMOJA and the local Rotary Club. Finally, we wish to research how we can support them in the future, with a view to applying for a global grant to enable them to further develop their centre.

I am now fund raising in earnest, not only towards the cost of the trip but also so that I can make a donation to the UMOJA charity. My plans include organising a Bennings breakfast’ event, and writing to some of the local business. L Clarke and Sons, Co Andrews and Philip J Milton & Company Plc have already supported my cause.