A Heath Hayes man is planning to walk on a cattle drovers' route across the Scottish highlands to raise money for Malakota, a rural community in Zambia.
Like many rural African communities, they have struggled through droughts and cyclones over recent years, and although supported by a Partnership with a number of UK churches, they have found it increasingly hard to provide the 'Three Essential Services' for their orphaned and vulnerable children. Malakota is just one of many Community Based Organizations served by Hands at Work in Africa, in eight African countries.
Mr Green, aged 78 "on the outside" he says, has been a volunteer and advocate for Hands at Work since his first working visit in 2004. "I have seen orphaned children grow to be active leaders, transforming their communities," says George. He has seen increasing crises threatening to take resources away from the regular costs of feeding and caring for the children. Changing climate is biting hard.
To replant crops after drought, to rebuild homes after cyclones, or to keep children safe during violent unrest in DRC has made it necessary to raise a crisis fund to deal with the unforeseen.
George will be walking from Kylerhea on the West coast to Beauly Firth on the East, taking five days, camping or sleeping in a hostel. He says it will be a challenge, but he is confident of succeeding, walking at the steady pace of the strong women of Africa, but with luggage in a rucksack, not on his head.
"Some of our Care Workers walk all day to check up on just one child," says George.
Hands at Work on their website. Or read more about his trek and support George's walk directly through his JustGiving page.