ABOUT US

The charity exists for the protection of health, the relief of poverty and the advancement of education of the people of the Tabora region of Tanzania and in particular the village of Uyogo. In addition, we seek to foster a continuing link of friendship between the people of the community of Uyogo and the people of Kenilworth.

The link started in 1979, when the people of Kenilworth raised over £2,400 for its International Year of the Child project to enable a Mother and Child clinic to be built and equipped in the village of Uyogo in the Tabora Region of Tanzania, using local materials and labour.

The clinic was completed three years later. Since then Kenilworth has maintained a friendship link by correspondence, exchange visits to Uyogo and raising funds to equip the clinic and support of other projects. Uyogo is a large but relatively remote rural village near the town of Tabora in the district of Urambo in NW Tanzania. The objectives of the link are the protection of health, the advancement of education and the relief of poverty of the people of the village of Uyogo.

After our initial project of building the Mother and Child Clinic our next priority was tackling the lack of clean water supplies.  Inadequate sanitation and contaminated drinking water are a major cause of the spread of disease and a high death rate. Initially we supplied funding for the building of wells and adequate latrines. However, with the changing level of the water table, the wells have now been replaced with a Deep Bore Hole, completed in 2009. Water Harvesting tanks were then installed near to the village school, collecting and conserving rain water running from the school’s gutters. Subsequent projects improved the supply of water to the village by fitting pumps to the existing wells and building more Water Harvesting tanks.

We were delighted to report that over the years support for the projects has grown in Uyogo, with the regional government office of Urambo and in Kenilworth. We have established communication with Uyogo via our Liaison Officer, who consults with the villagers and then relays to us what they say the main needs of the village community are. Several Liaison Officers have visited Kenilworth over the years to meet with KUFL’s Committee face to face, get to know each other and understand how the project can best work, building upon mutual trust.

Committee Members:

Chair - Kit Lawry

Born in Kenya, I have lived and worked in Tanzania, Swaziland and Malawi as well as in Finland, Myanmar, Kuwait, Kazakhstan and Russia.  I’ve worked with international charities and in local universities for much of my life, including currently the University of Warwick.  

I joined KUFL in 2009, on moving to Kenilworth, because I had been a VSO volunteer teacher trainer in Tanzania in 1979-81 and am interested in retaining links with Tanzania.  The experience of living and working close to Tanzanian colleagues was life-changing.  My husband and I met in Tanzania.  My skills and interests lie in teaching English language, intercultural communication and international development.  

I visited Uyogo in October 2019 and was impressed how KUFL’s projects contribute positively to people’s lives.  I became Chair of KUFL in 2020.

Vice-Chair – Jane Cunningham

 

As the most recent member to join the KUFL committee, I’ve been impressed by all the charity has achieved over its long history of friendship between Uyogo and Kenilworth. Like many people, I feel drawn to support its proven and practical projects which benefit both towns. I’ve been based in Kenilworth since 1977 though as a family we have spent about 25 of the intervening years living and working in many countries, including Tanzania for five years, and I’ve been lucky enough to revisit several times since. While in the UK I worked as a social worker, and in Africa taught at both primary and lower secondary levels.  In India I worked as Community Liaison officer for the British High Commission and in Botswana for the European Commission. My main interests are in health, family, education, and youth work.

Treasurer – Peter Jackson:

 

Like many people Janet and I relocated to Kenilworth many years ago (from San Diego), expecting to get acquainted with the town for upto 5 years. We’re still here, our 2 boys have grown up and have now moved on.
I have been treasurer for KUFL since 2014, in that time we have sent approx. £72k (TZS 209m) for projects in Uyogo. I am a certified accountant with many years experience in the computer software industry. I am treasurer for 2 other Kenilworth based charities.

Secretary – Pam Young:

“I moved to Kenilworth in 1975 with my husband and two sons. I had initially worked in Local Government – Education, School Health and Treasurer’s departments and then for a number of years as Credit Controller for a company in Coventry.

In the past I was a trustee of a local womens’ refuge and also now volunteer with readers to the blind and partially sighted in the Kenilworth area. I also volunteer at a local mother and toddler group.
I was a supporter of KUFL for a few years before joining the committee in 2016 and shortly after this became secretary. It has been so good to see the benefits of the projects KUFL supports improving the lives of the people of Uyogo in so many ways.

Committee Member:
Peter Fisher:

 

I joined KUFL committee in 2003 as treasurer and was Chairman from 2014 to 2019. My experience of Africa started in 1965 when I spent a year in Kenya with VSO teaching building and civil engineering and I have remained interested in development issues ever since. I have made several visits to different parts of Africa over the years and have visited the village of Uyogo on 3 occasions where I have been able to witness at first hand the health and education projects we have been assisting with as well as experiencing the generous hospitality of the villagers.

Committee Member:
Hazel Jackson:

 

My husband and I have lived in Kenilworth since 1973 and our three children have all enjoyed their time at Kenilworth schools. Before retiring I worked as a hairdresser and then as a registered childminder, so I have always felt part of the Kenilworth Community. I also had an interest in helping others in need, especially those in developing countries and so joined the KUFL Committee.
I joined KUFL about 35 years ago. In those days communication was by letter. They arrived very irregularly, and we often had to get these translated from Swahili. So very different from our KUFL WhatsApp group now.

Committee Member:
Sarah Butler:

 

I was brought up in Kenilworth and Lagos, Nigeria. I have worked in education for over twenty years and have worked abroad in a variety of educational settings. I have been privileged to have been welcomed into many different communities across the world and have learnt about many aspects of life including customs, traditions, and food. I am interested in nature and the environment. In my free time I am involved in a community garden in Kenilworth with another great group of people, and I also enjoy the arts including reading; theatre and cinema.

Committee Member:
Andrew Barker:

 

I joined the KUFL committee in 2018, after subscribing to and following KUFL activities for a number of years. I have lived in Kenilworth since 1999 and work as a professional engineer, specialising in broadcast and telecommunications. My role on the committee is in looking after the website, editing video content and providing audio visual facilities at events and meetings.

Committee Member:
David Bailey:

 

As a representative from Kenilworth Town Council since 2023, and a Kenilworth resident since 2005, I’ve been so impressed to learn more about the brilliant achievements of the Friendship Link over the years. Truly transformational change in action, via a strong and mutually beneficial partnership between our communities and schools. Born and raised in my very early years in Tanzania, I’m aware of the huge advances the country has made as well as future development opportunities which the Friendship Link can help to realise. So I’m happy contributing my software, data and project management skills to this international team, to continue its vital work.

Liaison with Uyogo Ward:
Lucky Mgeni

My name is Lucky Enock Mgeni, born in Iringa region, in the southern highlands of Tanzania. My professional skills are water supply and sanitation engineering and I worked with in the water department of the Urambo district council as a water technician for three years frome 2005 – 2008. I was appointed as manager of the Urambo Urban Water Supply and Sanitation from 2008 – 2016. I started working voluntarily with KUFL in 2009 when Peter Fisher (a former Chairman of KUFL) came to Tanzania. Since I joined KUFL we have implemented many projects including the construction of three ferrocement rainwater harvesting tanks with a capacity of 50 cubic metres each, constructions of classrooms and teachers’ houses as well as the distribution of books in the three primary schools of Uyogo, Kasela and Igembensabo. In 2014 I visited Kenilworth where I learned how KUFL raises money from their members and various development stakeholders to support development projects for the vulnerable people of Uyogo, I was very impressed to see some churches contribute money for Uyogo. Back in Uyogo, I also supervised the establishment of a modern beekeeping group called Uyogo Beekeeping Association (UBEA) 2015-2016. We built the workshop and honey processing room for this project that was supported by KUFL and Bees Abroad. In 2020-2021 we constructed a scheme to bring water from a borehole to the main Uyogo health centre, with four domestic points which supply water to the villagers, primary school and the health centre. I supervise a project supplying bikes for the girl students of Umiki Secondary School so they can cycle safely and quickly to and from school. We are working on making re-useable sanitary pads for the girls as well so they don’t have to miss school when they have their period.. Currently we are implementing a water project for Umiki secondary school and construction of one classroom at Igembensabo primary school. I also work with two other UK charities, Friends of Urambo and Mwanhala (FUM) and Minchinhampton Nkokoto Link which support various social services projects in Urambo district.

Liaison with local government:
Charles Benson Mswima

I was born in the Mbeya region and worked as a secondary school teacher at Ikapu Secondary teaching HIstory and Geography from 21007-2009. In 2012 I shifted to Ilasi High School teaching Economics for Advanced level in Songwe region. In both schools I learnt a lot about rural life and I enjoyed teaching my students. In 2013 I started a new career in Urambo District Council as an Economist, to date. I am dealing with all planning aspects and coordinating council matters including preparing the council’s annual plan and budget, monitoring and evaluation of various development projects, coordinating Risk and Fraud management at district level, and preparing various reports for Parliamentary committees, etc. In 2022 I was appointed as District Census Coordinator therefore produced a report on total population. Apart from being an economist I have been working with international charities including KUFL, FUM and Nkokoto Minchinhampton Friendship Link.