A volunteer from Bo’ness is taking on an extraordinary challenge this summer in support of vulnerable families in Tanzania. Charlie, a 26-year-old graduate electrical engineer, will travel to Tanzania this November to volunteer with the Vine Trust on a Building Expedition project delivered in partnership with the Tanzania Women Research Foundation (TAWREF) which has seen over 140 new homes built for vulnerable families to date.
During the trip, Charlie will work alongside local teams and volunteers to help build safe and sustainable homes for vulnerable families identified through TAWREF’s community programmes. Speaking about the project, Charlie said: “As a young woman in engineering, I’m passionate about contributing to international development and using my skills to support women-centred, community-led projects.”
To help fund the trip, Charlie is taking on the demanding GB 50 Ultra this week (Saturday 6 June) – a 56-mile ultramarathon that will test both endurance and determination. “It will be largely fuelled by too many sweeties,” Charlie joked, “but I’m really looking forward to the challenge… and the views!”
Charlie is aiming to raise £2190 which will go towards flights, accommodation, and essential building materials used during the project in Tanzania. Supporters can donate through either of the fundraising pages below:
- Vine Trust fundraiser: https://www.vinetrust.org/u/fc58c
- GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/e6f8bab49
The fundraising effort highlights the growing impact local volunteers can have through international partnerships that focus on sustainable, community-led support. Any support or donations would be greatly appreciated by Charlie as she prepares for the project later this year.
The Vine Trust is an international development charity that works with long-term Peruvian and Tanzanian partners as they strengthen health systems and implement construction projects in isolated and vulnerable communities. The roots of Vine Trust can be traced back to a shop called Branches, which was opened in the 1980s in Bo’ness as a response to the famine in Ethiopia. This not-for-profit gift shop funded the initial donation for the charity and continues to support Vine Trust to this day. For more information, please visit the Vine Trust website (linked for your convenience).
The Tanzania Women Research Foundation focuses on supporting women, families, and long-term community development through practical, sustainable action. A national organization engaged to conduct evidence based interventions informed by research using community driven interventions, the foundation was founded in December 2010 with a mission of transforming lives through a holistic approach. For more information, please visit the Tanzania Women Research Foundation website (linked for your convenience).
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