Health cadets head to Uganda

Cadets Jade Williams and Stacy Johnson with Craig Harrison, Cadet Tutor from the Pennine Acute Trust

Two Hopwood Hall College students will be forgoing parties in Ibiza this summer to do charity work in Uganda.

Health cadets, Jade Williams and Stacy Johnson, both 18, beat off stiff competition from around 500 other students to secure their place on the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award trip – just five other students from the North West secured a place.

The pair will be based in an orphanage in Jinja for two weeks and will work in the local hospital, schools and communities.

The trip has been arranged in conjunction with Rossendale based charity ‘Agapao International.’

Cadet programme managers, The Skills for Health Academy North West, and Agapao, have been taking students from the Merseyside area for three years; this is the first year which the opportunity has been offered to students from Greater Manchester.

Over the last three years, other students have seen enormous improvements in conditions, but vast amounts of work are still required.

Craig Harrison, a Cadet Tutor from the Pennine Acute Trust, will be accompanying the students on the trip.

He said: “I’m very proud of my students who applied for the course; whilst most 18 year old pre-university student will be dreaming of Ibiza, these girls are dedicated to helping others in a third world country.

“Each student has to raise approx. £1,100 to pay for the trip which will be done with sponsorship, bag packing at supermarkets and various charity events.”

Mr Harrison and the students will be holding a charity night towards the end of March which will involve an auction, singing and dancing to raise as much money as possible for the trip.

He is currently contacting local businesses for donations for the auction.

Each student will be taking two suitcases full of supplies including football tops, balls, pens, crayons, school uniforms, tooth brushes and anything which would be useful.

Any donations can be given to Craig Harrison at Hopwood Hall College, who can be contacted on either 07795686759 or alternatively craig.harrison@skillsforhealth.org.uk