CHILDREN in Africa are to benefit from the fundraising efforts of a Llanfyllin-based charity.

Dolen Ffermio raised more than £10,000 through its Christmas campaign thanks to the generosity of their local community and the Big Give Christmas Challenge, the UK’s biggest online match funding campaign.

This was the first time the volunteer-run charity participated in the Big Give and it gave it a big boost, with more than £7,000 of the donations made through the platform, supporting its work in eastern Uganda.

The cash will help 260 eastern Ugandan children and their families to access clean water, grow food, and receive training.

The charity has been working for more than 20 years with communities in rural Uganda to support a range of sustainable development programmes, now plans to expand its work after this success.

Christmas Campaign co-ordinator Rachael Sharpe said: “We really didn’t know how 2020 would impact on our fundraising work and it’s been truly fantastic to receive the support of so many people during such a challenging year.

“The fact that supporters – old and new – were willing to donate what they could to benefit the well-being of people they don’t personally know, is very generous and big-hearted. Gestures that really change lives for the better.”

Dolen Ffermio (Farming Link) has been working to alleviate poverty in Eastern Uganda since 1991, and to raise awareness of world food and farming issues in the local area, the Welsh/Shropshire Marches.

Currently the charity is working in the Ngora District where it has established goat and orphan projects. Orphans are cared for by their extended family and are given gifts and training to help them contribute to family income.