A NAILSEA couple who set up a charity in Uganda will return to Africa this month to continue its valued work.

Mark and Megan Walters, both aged 23, visited the country last year during a trip around the world.

They had not planned to create a charity but after seeing the living conditions of people forced to inhabit a slum in the country’s capital, Kampala, they felt compelled to act.

With some help, including funds raised by members of Holy Trinity and Trendlewood churches in Nailsea, they set up Hope for Life Katanga and started teaching 15 of the most vulnerable children in the slum. They eventually bought two buildings which they turned into a free school and a learning centre for parents.

Megan said: “We left our jobs in July 2011 as we felt we couldn’t just sit back and watch what is happening in our world. We had the mentality that even if we were able to affect the lives of just a few people we would have succeeded but we hadn’t originally planned to set up an ongoing charity.”

Before leaving Uganda and continuing with their travels around the world, Mark and Megan hired two Ugandan teachers and formulated a core team of trustees to run the project on the ground.

Mark and Megan returned to the UK in May but will fly out to Uganda again on August 14 to progress the project and treat the families it helps to a trip to the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre.

Mark, who used to be a keeper at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm in Wraxall, said: “It is amazing to have the opportunity to go back to Uganda to see our children, families and the project again.

“I am so excited to take these children out of the slum and into an amazing learning environment, seeing various different animals that we perhaps take for granted when we see them at our local zoo.”

Mark and Megan will hold an open presentation evening tomorrow (Thurs) at Holy Trinity Church in Church Lane, Nailsea, at 8-9.30pm for anyone interested in finding out more about their charity. For more details visit www.hopeforlifekatanga.com