A CHARITY worker who has dedicated her life to helping underprivileged children in Africa is full of praise for recent aid efforts by local people.
Newhall’s Libby Nahimana has spent more than 12 years giving hope to homeless orphans in Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi, a republic in central Africa.
Libby spoke to the Mail about her work and the recent visit of a group of football coaches from Winshill FC to Burundi.
She said: “We are all so grateful for Gary Dunne and the other coaches coming over to help the children.
“The event was a massive success with more than 240 children turning up; it went so well that they look set to come back next year.
“We hope that visits like the ones from the coaches will help change people’s opinions of the area and encourage others to help.
“They need to know that people are not looking for hand-outs but for help. If people don’t work then they do not eat. All we want to do is help and give them the best possible chance.
“It is still hard when I come back to visit England, when you see the choices people have and what they waste.
“Still, after all this time here, the work is very hard but it is also incredibly rewarding.” Libby established the charity Restoration of Hope in 2004 with the plan of helping street children in Bujumbura.
The idea for the project came when Libby was followed home by three street boys looking for food. She gave them a home, and many others have followed since.
The plan was to take boys off the street and to change their environment to give them a family, a home and an education.
Seven months later, the first Hope House was opened. It is now home to 13 boys who previously lived on the street.
The second Hope House opened in October, 2005, and is home to another 17 boys.
Restoration of Hope, which is funded by contributions, currently cares for another 21 boys providing food, education and essential medicines.
Libby, who lives in Africa with her husband and children, returns to South Derbyshire every 18 months to visit her parents, Vic and Laurene Ford, who live in Church Street, Newhall.
For more information on the charity visit www.rofh.org.
