Dear Miss Johns,

I am writing to thank you for your overwhelming donation of unwanted school clothing which you kindly agreed to donate to UGive2Uganda - a charity run by a dear friend of mine and a charity which is helping a huge number of children in the surrounding villages of Mbale, Uganda.

Philip Monk runs the charity.  He's a very unassuming gentleman who's links with Uganda stem back to his youth when he started to sponsor a child through World Vision.  In his later life he felt compelled to do more to help and started to visit Mbale with a mission to set up a brass band, giving the children involved a goal, a focus, a sense of pride and a sense of achievement.  He soon recognised that he needed to have a more hands on approach to the project and so he decided to take the admirable step of moving out to Uganda.  In the three plus years he has been there his work with the band has extended to setting up training sessions in surrounding schools, and so expanding the benefits that music can bring these otherwise unfocussed children.  He has also set up a child sponsorship programme of his own which supports a great number of very needy children, he manages the distribution of agricultural supplies and mosquito nets from funds raised and donated to the charity by UK schools together.  He has used donations to set up a much needed welfare and medical fund which helps to give the children basic but sometimes life-saving medical attention they would otherwise have to go without.  In attempts to enable the families to become more self-sufficient he has attempted to set up a community farm and orchestrates links with supporters in the UK who help to support specific village projects (the supply of water towers, the setting up of a library etc). More recently he has fostered a couple of orphans with his lovely partner, Beatrice and has plans to focus his attentions in supporting a local orphanage who desperately need a helping hand. 

As you can see, his energy is relentless and his heart is enormous!  I was privileged enough to visit Philip and his many projects in the Summer and came back humbled and in awe of this so, so different way of life.  The children and families I met have an unbelievable resilience and ingenuity to cope with the hardships and difficulties that face them on a daily basis, and they showed such hospitality and gratitude for the help they are receiving through the links Philip has made for them with the UK.

The donation of all the children's clothing from Wildmoor Heath School provides Philip with a fantastic opportunity to help a great number of children, many of whom walk around in rags because there just isn't the money available to spend on such luxuries.  The range of garments caters for all seasons and being brand new will help make the children feel very special!  The help your school has given also gives those who will be touched by it a sense of hope - just the same as in our own lives, when things are difficult, knowing that others are trying to assist is help in itself.

Should you wish to find out more about UGive2Uganda and the Mbale Schools Brass Band, Philip has a website at www.ugive2uganda.com.  In addition, if you feel there would be any benefit to giving your children an insight to this very different way of life, I would be more than happy to come and give them a little talk and show them some lovely pictures I have - lots of similar aged children with smiling faces and cheekiness, despite the travesties that surround them.

I have taken the liberty of forwarding your name and the school's main email address to Philip who I know wants to write and offer his own vote of thanks to you.  In the meantime, my sincerest thanks and gratitude in giving the unwanted clothing such a special and worthy new home.

With kindest regards

Clair Tomalin

(Daughter of John Roberts - previous Governor)