Good Friday fast for Ugangan family house (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Good Friday fast for Ugangan family house

A FORMER Farmor's School pupil is holding a 24-hour Good Friday fast to raise funds for a building project in the heart of Africa.

Elizabeth Elliot, 23, first travelled to Uganda to do voluntary work at a primary school during her gap year in 2000.

It was there, at St Patrick Kigulu School in Iganga, she became involved with the Waiswa family.

And Elizabeth and her mother Emma Kenworthy, who live in Southrop, have been providing financial aid for the African family ever since.

Emma said: "While Elizabeth was teaching she met a girl called Waiswa Tusabe Elizabeth, who was actually the head of the school.

"She was older than most of the other girls, having had to interrupt her education for two years as her father had died and there was no money for her to continue her education.

"Elizabeth thought she was such an intelligent and thoughtful girl, but she soon found out that she was not going to be able to stay at school as the Swiss lady who had previously paid her school fees was unable to continue doing so.

"My daughter wrote to me and, with the help of kind donations, W. Elizabeth was able to stay at the school.

"There were many problems with getting the money out there, but W. Elizabeth has done very well and I've been sent her school reports showing her progress in all subjects."

Only last August, however, did the Southrop family discover some of the Waiswa family were suffering from malaria.

They lived in a swampy area where there was a constant threat from mosquitoes, and many families were starting to move away.

W. Elizabeth's mother had been offered a new piece of land to buy for the equivalent of £200, but she could raise just £10.

Emma said: "We sent out the money for the land and W. Elizabeth wrote back saying it was "good and flat".

"She said that now they would dig and plant crops, but then there was the question of finding a way to raise money for a house."

The target is £1,500 and Emma and her daughter will be pursuing several fundraising initiatives in the coming weeks.

But their current project is a sponsored fast, with only water permitted, on March 25, and all donations will be gratefully received.

Emma added: "I think being able to move to a good area to grow their crops has made the difference between life and death for some members the family.

"It's because of this, and because these are people living in circumstances of such need, that we thought of raising money by spending a day without the most basic requirement in life - food."

For more information about the Waiswa family, or to contribute to the appeal, contact Emma or Elizabeth on 01367 850235.