Jane Kelso from Forres is organising a sales event in Findhorn to raise funds for the Uganda Aid Person To Person charity

ANYONE with items to sell is invited to book a table at an event being organised to raise funds for a charity that provides access to education for Ugandan children - many of them orphans.

Part-time carer and volunteer Jane Kelso is organising the event in the James Milne Institute, Findhorn in aid of Uganda Aid Person To Person (UAPTP), started more than 20-years-ago by Marlyn Somers from Forres.

Jane said: “I will be selling items and I hope people book tables to sell more - there will also be refreshments to buy. Any money made will go to the charity.”

UAPTP aims to provide universal access to a high standard of education in Uganda. The school it funds - Bunono Central Primary School in the Kabale region - has more than 600 pupils, including over 100 orphans. The charity also hopes to provide safe accommodation for them. Currently, only half of them benefit from both housing and schooling.

Jane first read about UAPTP in the Gazette and spoke to Mrs Somers about its work. Following that conversation in 2016 she travelled to Uganda with the team to visit Bunono with the charity team.

She said: “I’ve seen the progress the school - a long term project - has made partly due to the charity’s work.

“The main reason for annual visits is to ensure pupils with sponsors from the Forres area - parents still have to pay for education in Africa - are doing well. Also, we can provide them with anything they may need such as uniforms, shoes, books, equipment and bedding as some orphans stay in the school dormitory.”

She added: “My first visit was an eye-opener to what real poverty is, not just at the school where some children’s toes were hanging out of their shoes and their meals - dollops of rice and starchy lumps - were the same every day.

“But also the surrounding area, where people lived in mud huts with no running water and few ways to make a living.

“However, the locals showed the team so much kindness. They were willing to give us their last morsel of food to say thank you for coming to their country and supporting the children.”

Jane raises awareness of UAPTP via presentations she makes to groups such as Findhorn Scottish Women’s Institute whom she is visiting next month.

She sponsors a child at Bunono Central called Nicodemus and her niece makes friendship bracelets she sells with all proceeds going to the charity.

Tables at the sale at the JMI on Saturday, December 2 from 10am-4pm cost £8 each.

“There will hopefully be a variety of tables such as crafts, bric-a-brac and possibly items donated by Forres Men’s Shed,” said Jane. “Anyone with seasonal crafts or gifts to sell may be interested. The event also gives people a chance

to sell off items they want to clear out.

“I will also be on hand to promote Uganda Aid Person To Person.”

Call Jane on 07821367059 if you can help.

For more information about the charity email Marlynsomers@hotmail.co.uk