Perthshire teenagers raising cash to save lives in eastern Africa.

Group hopes to help build water tanks and goat sheds for people in Tanzania

A group of Perthshire teenagers has embarked on a fundraising campaign to save lives in eastern Africa.

Eight youngsters aged 16-18 from Perth, Kinross, Aberfeldy and Blairgowrie are attempting to raise £20,000 to help buy building materials in the Tanzanian region of Musoma.

As part of a collaboration with Perth YMCA, The Breathe Project with Aberfeldy Parish Church and Go Mad, the group is hoping to fly out next April.

The cash will go towards flying the youngsters and their supervisors out, as well as paying for equipment to construct watering holes and goat sheds.

Franny McGrath, youth co-ordinator at the Breathe Project, said: “It will be a life-changing experience for the young people going out.

“We want to build water tanks and goat sheds for the locals in the area.

“We can only do so much so we will employ locals to help the children and we will buy equipment out there to help their economy.

“One in 20 children die under the age of five in Tanzania and a lot of the time that is down to dirty drinking water, so hopefully we will save some lives.

“The goat shed will also give locals the opportunity to rely on fresh milk.”

He said the expedition would be a real eye opener for the young people.

“Hopefully they will see what is going on in the world and show they can make a difference,” he added.

After announcing the planned trip last week at a special church meeting, the team has already raised more than £1,000 towards the planned target.

The group will now ramp up its fundraising efforts with events across Perthshire in an attempt to reach the £20,000 mark.

Mr McGrath added: “We have a youth service event at the church every month and that is where we launched the fundraising.

“From that alone we had donations of £350.

“Since then we had an event in Dundee last week where he hired out inflatables and raised £750.

“We have bag packs coming up in Aberfeldy and Perth as well.

“We are also trying to get sponsorships to help with our fundraising.”

If you would like to help the team contact Mr McGrath on frannymcgrath@yahoo.com.

One in 20 children die under the age of five in Tanzania and a lot of the time that is down to dirty drinking water, so hopefully we will save some lives. FRANNY MCGRATH

The group is ramping up fundraising efforts with events across Perthshire.