VILLAGERS in Tanzania are celebrating the 40th birthday of a Minchinhampton charity that was set up to improve health, education, water supplies and housing.

The Minchinhampton Nkokoto Link support the inhabitants of Nkokoto and in the past 40 years they have vastly improved the infrastructure and equipment around the village in order to better the lives of Nkokoto's villagers.

 

A group of Tanzanians who reside in the village of Nkokoto

Rod Harris who works as chairman of the Minchinhampton Nkokoto Link detailed the charity's future projects.

"We are particularly excited about our next initiative which is to build two houses for teachers at the communities school, we have seen too many of the teachers leave to look for somewhere better to live," explained Mr Harris.

"This will encourage teachers to stay in Nkokoto and give more stability to the school, it is our hope that this will improve the quality of education given to the 500 pupils."

This aligns with one of the Nkokoto Link's core beliefs - the charity see education as a way of lifting young people in the village out of poverty, which is prevalent in areas around Nkokoto.

"Our next major project is to look at the feasibility of pumping water from a borehole to a holding tank in the centre of the village, this will make the women and children’s long walk to fetch water far easier, added Mr Harris.

As things stand, the Nkokoto Link are still looking for sponsors so that they can continue their work in the Tanzanian village.

To find out more about Minchinhampton's Nkokoto Link you can contact Rod Harris at rodharriswoodchester@gmail.com or call 01453 872317