Out to help Africa (From Stroud News and Journal)

Out to help Africa

A CHARITABLE group of Minchinhampton residents are jetting off to Tanzania to set up an AIDs awareness programme.

Husband and wife, Steve and Linda Jarvis had the idea for the trip after taking part in a volunteer project in Tanzania last year.

The couple then organised the 12 other volunteers through their church, the Holy Trinity, Minchinhampton that is twinned with a church in Tanzania.

The group are taking the awareness work to Masasi in the south of Tanzania where Mr and Mrs Jarvis say there is currently little in the way of Aids education.

While in Africa they will set up a permanent group of eight Tanzanians to continue the programme in schools and villages across the area once they have left.

Mr Jarvis said: "Our objective is to train eight people and give them the materials and expertise so that they can go out to schools and villages and do it themselves.

"It's better that it comes from them because they can use the guidance we give them to taylor it to the needs of the area."

In preparation for the trip in July the group will learn some basic Swahili and receive training from specialist nurse, Helen Cossack, who is accompanying them to Africa.

Mrs Jarvis said: "If we can at least start them thinking about AIDs now, it might mean that in thirty years time things could be different.

"We want to try and destroy some of the myths surrounding HIV and AIDs in this part of Tanzania and make sure that they're aware about what it's like to be ignored when you have the illness."

Over the next few months the volunteers will also be organising fundraising activities to collect the £5000 neded to fund the continuation of the project after they leave.

Anyone who wants to help the group by donating money should contact Mr and Mrs Jarvis on 01453 884545.