Walking on to give hope to girls in Africa

The group of five women walked 11 miles over steep ascents at Win Hill and Hollins Cross to raise funds to buy much-needed uniforms and textbooks for a girls’ school in Uganda.

Sponsorship money is expected to total 3,000, some of which will also go towards funding an individual girl through the education system.

The school provides education and training to some of the poorest girls in the area.

Girls study typical subjects including maths, science and English, as well taking part in rural development training to develop and build their knowledge of practical skills like agriculture and home building.

The girls are then encouraged to pass their new skills on to their families.

Alida Bakema, co-founder of the school, said: “We are short of words to describe how much we appreciate women from another part of the world coming together to celebrate their solidarity for the girls in our school.

“The name of Hope Valley may not be a coincidence. We believe that hope, vision and a learning attitude are key to the development of the rural poor in Africa.”