I am going to Uganda in November to volunteer with AFFCAD, a Ugandan based educational charity. They support young people and families living in extreme poverty in Uganda. We currently work with the community Bwaise, one of the biggest and poorest slum areas in Kampala. 90,000 people live in Bwaise without access to services like clean water, shelter or sanitation and 65% of these are aged between 16-25.

I have worked with the charity for over a year from the UK and have now decided to go and support the brilliant work they do from the ground. The reason I want to volunteer with AFFCAD is because they share my belief that education today holds the key to solving the most prevalent problems in the modern world. Through education and empowerment, people's lives can be changed and that is what AFFCAD is doing with the wonderful community in Bwaise.

My role will include supporting AFFCAD in their economic empowerment programme, volunteer programme, and fundraising initiatives, with the aim of contributing to the organisation's mission of fostering sustainable development and empowering the local community.

Working within international development has been a dream of mine, and it is a privilege to have the opportunity to support a Ugandan led charity on the ground. Since starting at the charity I have been humbled by AFFCAD's local charity workers, and their drive to transform their community. Equally, seeing how one of the world's longest educational lockdowns has affected children in Bwaise has again reaffirmed to me the need for charities like AFFCAD, as many students as young as primary school never returned to education.

I hope to assist the charity in projects that cover education and business; the latter often shows the sheer resourcefulness and resilience of locals within such harsh environments. Importantly projects will be led by locals, who are all experts in their respective fields. Any support towards this fundraiser is not only appreciated by myself, but also the community of Bwaise. The money will go directly to AFFCAD and the projects I am working on; my trip is fully self-funded. Your donation will provide locals with hope through AFFCAD's projects, which seek to alleviate poverty through education, health and business. Ultimately, these areas should be rights for everyone and we too often take them for granted.

Thank you :)