Kids for Kids... reporting back on where some of the 2002 Bishop's Lent Call money went

Kids for Kids was one of the beneficiaries of the 2002 Lent Call, receiving a cheque for £25,000. Patricia Parker MBE, Chairman and founder of Kids For Kids reports on her visit to Darfur, where the charity supports long term, self sustainable projects identified by the villagers living in one of the most isolated and neglected areas of Sudan.

She writes:

I went to see how the money had been spent. It was overwhelming. The entire population of Um Ga'al and Um Hagaleg, where our first projects are based, turned out to greet us. The children sang a celebratory song, in English. "We wash our hands in the morning, because of the water, we wash our faces, in the morning, because of the water ...." People are walking half a mile to our handpumps, instead of over 20 miles.

I went to see handpumps which have been donated by individuals and named after them - and had to pick my way carefully over tomato, okra, cucumber and hibiscus plants where, six months previously, I had seen just sand.

We had 217 kids born in December and I patted our first donkey foal! Dr. Andrew Trawford, Veterinary Director of the Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth, was with me. He inspected the animals and conducted a workshop with our six paravets - village girls trained in basic veterinary care. We also met the two girls who are nearing the end of their training as village midwives - so that from February, the women will no longer have to rely on unsterilised rope delivery.

A new initiative is that ITDG (Intermediate Technology) is helping us with donkey ploughs and carts and planning to start a model farm by our handpumps. The difference the wonderful cheque from everyone in Southwark will make with these projects is hard to believe.

The people have never had help of this sort and it is enabling them to help themselves. Noone wants to rely on just handouts. I have never seen people work so hard to make something succeed as in these villages in Sudan. Our next project is for a village called Daba Tuga and its neighbours, where over 2,000 of the 5,526 inhabitants have no animals at all.

There is almost unimaginable need but the Lent Appeal cheque will help us make a real start. Thank you.

Anyone who would like to help Kids for Kids in any way, please contact Patricia Parker MBE, Denebank, Cotmandene, Surrey, RH4 2BL 01306 887624 or 07957 206440. Email: contact@kidsforkids.org.uk www.kidsforkids.org.uk