Ten years ago I met Gimacho Ermias, a tailor, and his daughter Sarah in Ethiopia, in the small town of Hosanna. Seeing how little they had of everyday things we take for granted, Carol and I have helped them out in a small way for the last 10 years and will continue to do so. Last year we visited them in their home town to see how they were.

He is still working as a tailor, earning a few pounds a day, and his wife, who is a nurse and suffers from asthma, has a full time job 25 miles away to make ends meet, so she can only return to be with her family at weekends. When I asked them what would change their lives, the answer came quickly. "Something to filter our drinking water, a fridge to keep food fresh, a cooker to replace their single electric ring and to make bread, and a sewing machine to help increase Gimacho's income as a tailor..

I have decided to set up this page to see what can be done to help them out. If you can help in any way, they would really appreciate it. Every pound contributed will make a real difference.

Why do we need to raise so much? These items, in Ethiopia, cost two to three times what we would pay for them here. I have contacted various places to see if we can get them at a more reasonable cost and if so we will be able to do more with any money we raise.

Thanks for taking the time to read this............John and Carol