Many of you will be surprised to hear that I am planning to work in Africa for 2 weeks in November - Perry certainly was!

The aim of the project is, working with local people, to build a model community garden in the slums of Kampala, Uganda to teach people to grow their own vegetables using innovative ways of utilising the small space available, irrigation etc.. One of the major problems facing the poorest families is how to ensure a secure food supply and this project will be instrumental in achieving those aims.

We will also be looking at ways to support people by encouraging them in small business ventures through microfinance. These opportunities could be opening a market stall, starting sewing co-operatives or providing funds to train in a skill, carpentry for example. The small loans are repaid, usually within a year, and I, along with the other volunteers on the project, have the opportunity to make the decisions on new investments into the community. In this way we are in control of the money that we raise and will continue to work with the community even when we are home.

Working closely with local organisations ensures that we can tackle the real needs in the area and make a sustainable difference to the community in which we will be working.

I have long felt that just giving money to a problem isn't the real answer, so this hands on approach really appealed to me and I would really appreciate your help in raising £1,000 to fund this amazing experience.

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Many thanks

Maggi

PS I have been quite overwhelmed by the support I have received from my family and friends, old and new. I thank them all. Please don't feel that you must match the generous donations that I have received - anything that you feel you can give will be equally appreciated.

PPS My thanks to all of you that have already given to my great adventure. I met up with some of the group recently and we are madly researching what will grow out there,can we take seeds/plants with us etc. Also are members of the community literate? We intend to make pictorial handbooks so they can continue to tend the garden after we have come home. At the moment I think there are only 5 volunteers so the more each of us can raise the better. Obviously some of the money raised is for our flights and accommodation, but as I said before almost half is for microfinance and the rest is to provide the things we need practically for the project such as spades, wheelbarrows and a shed to keep the tools in (yes I do know I should have said 'a shed in which to keep the tools' ! )Having met some of the others, I think we may take hand tools out with us (to save on the overall budget) as well as some gardening books. We probable only have room for a hand fork and trowel or something like that to take each - I think a hoe or spade may be rather frowned upon as hand luggage! Any extra help you give over my original target will help us to buy more equipment in Uganda which will also help the economy locally.

Many thanks to you all