‘Thanks for a vital lifeline’

6:22pm Tuesday 3rd April 2007

Comments (1)   Have your say »

AN activist who spends much of the year visiting impoverished children in Africa has thanked schools, churches and local businesses for their support.

Elena Utton, of Alpha Road, Chingford, has been working for children suffering from malnutrition, poverty and disease in Kwazulu, South Africa, through her charity One Life for the past seven years.

She said that she was delighted that local support is growing, having enlisted the help of Chase Lane Junior School.

The school in York Road, Chingford, has raised over £500 and sponsors the education of eight-year-old South African Qiniso Msweli.

Members of St Anne's Church, Larkshall Road, Chingford, pay for an orphaned girl to go to colleg, and staff at businesses, ranging from Mals dress shop in Chingford Mount to the Prince of Wales pub in Basildon, raise funds.

Mrs Utton described her recent experience visiting a centre that supplied food to children, 75 per cent of whom were HIV positive.

She found a family of eight children living in a dilapidated shack, and said: "I had never seen conditions quite as bad as these and I had to turn away as the tears came.

"Most of the children I raise money for are orphaned, living with aged and sick grandparents or neighbours or as part of one of the many child-headed families.

"Many live in unbearable conditions in one-room shacks that are unsafe, leak, are broken down, without heat, water, light and many without even a blanket.

"We have so much in this country. Please help me at least to give a child an education or buy him a blanket for the winter time or help towards patching a roof or a wall so that winter becomes that little more bearable."

l Contact Mrs Utton on 8926 2431 or by email to elena@onelife-online.org.uk