A WHITEFIELD charity champion has just returned from a one-month mercy mission to aid a vital charity in the heart of Africa.

And thanks to an earlier appeal in the Bury Times, 70-year-old Peter Walker arrived in Tanzania bearing gifts in the shape of mobile phones. He also kindly donated sports kit and children’s clothing to his hosts.

Peter, of Lavenham Close, spent a month working for an organisation entitled TeV (Tanzania eco Volunteerism) which aims to bring education and welfare opportunities to people who have slipped through the net. The charity is based in the coastal town of Tanga, 170 miles north of the capital, Dar Es Salaam.

The former Bolton Market businessman explained: “TeV is a small, local charitable organisation. They have a school, situated between two poor villages on the outskirts of Tanga, where children can get free education.”

Peter, who has travelled extensively with wife Mavis following his retirement seven years ago, said: “My work was to assist the Tanzanian teachers in class to teach English to the teachers and to rewrite some of their brochures and leaflets. Everyone I met wanted to practise their English and it seemed I was working from getting up until bedtime.

“It was hard work, yet very rewarding. The Tanzanian Government is getting more children into school and further education, but there is still an enormous need for volunteers.”

He went on: “The charity is doing wonderful work. The basis of their thinking is only to give ‘hand-outs’ in the form of free schooling for village children and sponsorship to get the visually impaired into mainstream education.

“Working with the children was very special.

“It is extremely difficult for the permanent Tanzanian teachers because children begin school at any time of the year which means there is a huge problem of mixed ability.”The fact that Peter has returned home from Africa does not mean he has ended his association with the charity. Far from it. He is keen to source funds which can be used to provide vital equipment.

“Friends here have offered their help and I hope we will be able to find ways to raise funds.”

If any readers have tools lying around which are not needed, Peter will be delighted to collect them.

Meanwhile, he and his wife plan to sponsor a child. “It costs £50 a year per child per year for boarding/schooling, plus an additional £50 in the first year for essentials they have to take with them. Anyone who can donate tools or other required equipment can contact Peter on (0161) 766 7426 or email hooly70@hotmail.com Readers who want to find out more about volunteering/sponsorship can log on to volunteerismtanzania.org