IN wanting to “see for herself” how the money Alton’s The Tricycle Charity Shop sends to help the people of Uganda was being spent, manager Michelle Leech took what turned out to be “an inspiring trip” to the country that sits in the centre of the African continent.

The Tricycle Shop, on Normandy Street, splits its profits between charities in the Alton area, The British Kidney Patient Association, and IRFF projects in Uganda.

Since opening three-and-a-half years ago, the Tricycle Shop has sent more than £24,000 to Uganda and Michelle felt it was important for her to see for herself the projects in the country and investigate exactly how the money sent by the shop was being spent.

The first project Michelle visited was Destiny School, which has been set up to provide free education for the poorest children in the area who otherwise would not be able to attend school.

It provides a nutritious meal for the children every day and a well has been dug to provide clean water, not just for the pupils at the school but also for the community.

The water from the well is also used to irrigate crops which provide nutritious food for the children, but more building work is required to accommodate children over the age of 10.

“It is hoped we can continue to support them,” she said.

The Tricycle Shop also supports a mobile medical team which travels around some of the poorest areas in Uganda treating adults and children suffering from debilitating infestations of jiggers.

These small flea-like insects enter the feet and hands of the sufferers where they lay eggs and cause infection. The IRFF team remove the jiggers and provide education on how to prevent their reoccurrence as well as fumigating houses and schools and providing children with shoes.

One of the most inspiring days Michelle spent was at Butale School, which is in a poor community in Uganda. She was shown the long walk children were having to make to a muddy stream in order to get water for their families. The water was dirty and the walk was tiring and unsafe.

“The Tricycle Shop has been able to support the building of a well so that the children would have accessible, clean and safe water and the well was finished on the day that I visited. The gratitude expressed by the whole community was overwhelming,” said Michelle.

Now back in Alton, Michelle said: “This is just a snapshot of some of the work being done in Uganda thanks to the support of The Tricycle Shop.

“It really has put my mind completely at rest as I have seen where every penny is spent and it really is making a massive difference in people’s lives thanks to the generosity of the people of Alton.

“Also, all the staff and volunteers at the shop would like to thank everyone who has supported them over the years and helped make these projects possible.”