Accountant aims to bring hope to people of Uganda

just completed the building of a school.

Martin spoke to the Gazette on a break back in the UK from his unpaid volunteering work in Africa, which has been supported by friends and family at St Mary Bredin Church in Canterbury.

He said: “Being out there in Africa, trying to help people improve their lives and building relationships with them, has been a real privilege and quite a humbling experience. It is something that changes you.”

Martin says one of his charity’s most satisfying elements was the principle that it offered proactive long-term help rather than simply supplying short-term aid solutions.

The accountant has been able to use his skills and own funds to set up an income-generating activity programme for villagers who have been living in squalid conditions.

So far, the project has helped families improve their lives through enabling them to establish businesses including fruit and vegetable sales, hairdressing, carpentry and small restaurants.

Martin added: “I originally just went out for two weeks there seven years ago to visit, but I just felt that I had to go back for longer and I became more and more involved with stuff that was going on and felt like I was making a difference.

“The slum school that we have built now has 400 children going to it and we have helped their parents, especially some of the mothers of the kids.

“Before we were able to help, there were thousands of children who were just not able to go to school there.” For more information on the project, visit www. childofhopeuganda.org.

Martin Hayter is travelling to Africa for charity work with Child of Hope in Uganda