Cash raised to help African village scheme

Jun 29 2009 by Ben Guy, The Journal

A PIONEERING Africa development project is set to take a further step forward.

Gateshead-based fundraiser Sean Murphy is preparing to take his latest team of workers to a remote part of Tanzania to continue the work which first started almost two years ago.

In that time Mr Murphy has led teams that have regenerated four school buildings, improved nursery facilities and built a playground in the village of Mahida, which is in the foothills of Kilimanjaro.

But now Mr Murphy is planning the most ambitious trip yet.

He aims to link up with local African workers to build a much-needed dormitory for the village school.

The team is due to fly out in January, but first Mr Murphy will be visiting Tanzania to get the locals started.

He said: “It would be impossible for a project team to complete the dormitory themselves in just 10 days – for a start things would take too long to dry.

“But I will be flying out a few months earlier with construction expert Ken Thompson, who works for Laing O’Rourke, to drum up a team of local workers to get the preparations in place.

“We will be giving them a plan, which will include a target for how advanced work on the building needs to be when we arrive.