SIR,
Hands Around The World (HATW) is a Monmouth and Forest of Dean-based charitable trust which, in August, will have reached 15 years of helping vulnerable children around the world.
Our 400 past volunteers, as well as supporters, are being invited to a party to celebrate!
HATW works in partnership with local organisations and communities, encouraging enthusiastic and well prepared short term volunteers to offer practical help and skill sharing.
For example, we are currently involved at projects in Ghana, Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, Benin and India - helping construct classrooms and training workshops at centres for disadvantaged children, many of whom are orphaned and/or have disabilities. Our aim is to make a lasting positive difference in the lives of these children!
In response to the need, we are seeking to increase our work and have already had three group projects in Africa this year. Although HATW initially focussed primarily on short-term building projects, we have started to develop ongoing links with some of our partner organisations which has led both to the involvement of skilled volunteers in a training role, and also to us offering guidance and financial support to some of these small local initiatives, which are making such a wonderful difference at grass roots level.
Maybe your readers would like to look at our website: http://www.hatw.org.uk">www.hatw.org.uk and keep an eye on our progress?
David Steiner
(Chief Executive)