Family to adopt African boy after seeing his world

Charity: Locals visited trailer which replicates life in Uganda and Ethiopia

A north-east family have decided to pay for an African child’s education and medicine after gaining an eye-opening insight into life in the Third World yesterday.

James and Chloe Milne, and their children Harry and Holly, were transported to a different continent - and a way of life they could only imagine - when they stepped inside a trailer remodelled to replicate the humble surroundings of an African shack.

The trailer, run by the Compassion Experience charity, was parked at Aberdeen’s Beach Leisure Centre and offered the Milnes, and dozens of other families, the opportunity to understand the lives of the most vulnerable children in the world.

The interactive exhibit fanned in smells and played sounds typical of African streets, and was decorated in a fashion common in countries like Uganda and Ethiopia.

After exploring the area, which included African children’s sparse bedrooms and living areas, Mr and Mrs Milne decided to “adopt” a child through the Compassion Experience.

Mrs Milne, of Aberdeen, said: “We came along to show the children how people live elsewhere in the world, so they could compare situations and appreciate what they have.

“It was quite an emotional experience.

“We decided to adopt Sedat from Ethiopia, who is the same age as my son Harry.

“We will hopefully help him get to school and pay for medicine and other important things.

“We’ll be writing letters to him as well, and Harry is really looking forward to speaking with Sedat about football.”

The Compassion Experience trailer told the story of Sameson, a boy from Ethiopia, and Shamim, a girl from Uganda.

The exhibit visited Aberdeen as part of a UK-wide roadshow, at the invitation of Kingswells Community Church.

The Aberdeen church has already partnered with the Compassion Experience and helps 200 children in Ethiopa, and volunteer Steve Bunn expressed his thanks to generous northeast locals.

He said: “I’ve been to Ethiopia myself and see the difference that donations from families can make.”

Photograph by Kami Thomson INSIGHT: Compassion charity worker Steve Bunn, in an exhibition of a typical Ethiopian dining area.