As many of you know, I had a truly wonderful experience in October with Te-Kworo Foundation whose mission is to provide quality education, maternal and child health care to girls, women and children in Northern Uganda.

Jock and I have supported the work of the foundation for many years now and I have to say that having actually visited Northern Uganda, I am now able to truly understand the incredible impact that Te Kworo Foundation is having on young girls not just in Pader where it began, but now in two other towns where schools for girls and clinics for women's health have been set up. Girls who before had little hope of being anything other than teenage mothers, are now understanding that with education they have a chance of a better life, where sexual abuse doesn't have to dominate their lives. Here at these schools they are safe, looked after by wonderful teaching staff and have food and a roof over their head. There are many girls with young babies through no fault of their own, who would otherwise be rejected by society, who are able to live with their babies in the school and have them cared for whilst they study.

In each educational facility and medical clinic we visited, the warmth and huge gratitude of everyone there was overwhelming. Incredible really in the face of such deprivation. There were so many heartbreaking stories but the overall feeling was of hope and the joyful welcomes we received accompanied by much dancing and singing will remain with me forever. Tried to master the African dancing but our western bodies just don’t seem to move like that!!!