Bridgnorth couple visit South Sudanese orphans on charity trip

Marcia Dale and Kevin Bellwood of Roobarb, a boutique based in Bridgnorth, visited around 40 children at a centre in the city of Kampala.

The children, who are aged from five to 18, are cared for by Confident Children out of Conflict.

The charity, which cares for the children in their native South Sudan and works hard to ensure they have opportunities to attend school, was first founded by Mr Bellwood and two other trustees back in 2007.

The organisation now pays for 850 children to go to school in South Sudan.

The duo visited the centre during the children’s summer school holidays and helped out with their homework and sports activities.

“The children, predominately girls, are schooled in Uganda as the school system would probably fail them in South Sudan,” Kevin said.

“These children are incredibly intelligent and the school system in South Sudan is in its infancy.

"All these children yearn for is a good education and can’t wait to learn. Most of them want to be doctors, nurses, pilots and journalists and would like to return to South Sudan once they have finished their schooling and help re-build their country.

"The first one of these girls will go to university in Kampala this year.”

“I have known these children since they were very young when I lived in Africa,and have seen them grow and mature in to very confident young people, with the help of a good education."

While in Uganda the couple spent their whole time with the young people, also presenting a two hour workshop on the potential dangers of social media.

Ms Dale said: “It was the most satisfying time I have ever spent on holiday, these young people soak up learning and are desperate to learn more, but they have so much homework to do, I came away totally worn out and needing a holiday."