Two former Moray social workers have recently returned from a volunteering trip to Tanzania.
John and Christine Carney began volunteering with Busega Children in January and intend to spend four or five months in the East African country each year.
Mr Carney formerly worked as head of families and criminal justice services with Moray Council and is now involved with family support in Tanzania.
Mrs Carney, who is manager of a children’s centre in the village of Mayega, describes her position in Tanzania as being very different to that in Scotland.
She said: “In Scotland I worked as a service manager working with adults with learning difficulties. With most things in the UK being fully funded by the local authority.
“Typical of almost all orphanages in Tanzania before we arrived the children were begging for food and clothes is another big issue.”
The children’s home provides shelter for 25 orphans and young people between the ages of five and 19.
Mrs Carney said: “When we walked into the dormitory there was a very basic bunkbed and the children had no possessions.
“There is no running water, proper sanitation or electricity but a hen project is providing fresh eggs for the children.”
She added that children sleeping on streets is a big problem: “Children in their situation go to the biggest town thinking they will find work.
“Mwanza has one of the biggest street children population.
“The children we have are very well behaved because they know the alternative could be begging on the street.
“The older children look after the younger ones.”
The couple, who live in Garmouth, thanked Moray people for the support they had given to the charity.
“Moray people have given a tremendous amount of support with individuals raising money and a golf tournament in September.”
With the money raised they were able to take a truckload of food to the home which will last four or five months.
In the future they would like to raise money for the construction of a house for volunteers at the orphanage with it being more than 80 miles from the charity in Mwanza.
The couple are planning a meeting either later this month or early September to discuss the work of Busega. The charity works with destitute children and poor families
If anyone would like to attend contact on busegascotland@gmail.com or on 07936 383800.