Rochdale volunteer gets ready for Ethiopian charity mission

Daniel Thackeray, a volunteer and word processing operator from Rochdale Police Station will be repairing drop-in centres for street children when he flies out to Addis Ababa on 15 November

With just weeks to go, a word processing operator from Rochdale Police Station is gearing up for an experience of a lifetime, and getting his eye in on the DIY skills he’ll need to refurbish a drop in centre for street children in Ethiopia.

Daniel Thackeray, 29, is a member of a 20-strong team of volunteers from Greater Manchester Police who are using their annual leave to work with Retrak, a Manchester-based charity which helps homeless African children to find a way off the streets.

As one of the GMP’s chosen charities for 2010, Retrak aims to enable street children in Africa to have a real alternative to life on the street. Many children live on the streets due to poverty, abuse, being orphaned often as a result of HIV/Aids, war and famine. Retrak protects and inspires these children by providing long term care and support in areas such as healthcare, refuge, education, employment opportunities and sports.

Mr Thackeray has just been briefed on final preparations for the trip which leaves on 15 November, “We got a very good idea on what we could expect to be doing at the drop in centre. We can’t wait to get stuck in,” he said.

The trip will be the first time that Mr Thackeray has been to Africa and he is well aware of the change in culture he will face.

Mr Thackeray said: “Every now and then I think it’s good to get out of your comfort zone and learn something new about yourself and another part of the world. The work that Retrak does is extremely beneficial for the children and families in Addis Ababa. I’ll be fascinated to meet the staff and some of the children whose futures they are nurturing. By renovating the new drop-in centre, I am proud that we will be doing something that will have a long term benefit.”

Mr Thackeray hopes that he will learn some valuable skills when he is out there and has already been very busy raising funds for the project.

He said: “I’ve been so impressed with how people have got behind me – the support has been really heartening. I’ve held cake sales, organised dress down days at work and my mum has even knitted a lovely sweater which we’ll be raffling off before I leave.

“It all goes to a great cause. We’re only there for nine days so there’s a lot of pressure to get everything finished. But the challenge is all part of the appeal.”

To support Retrak, Mr Thackeray and the team of volunteers from GMP visit www.justgiving.com/retrakgmp