A PENSIONER who has dedicated her retirement to helping orphans in Uganda, has raised thousands of pounds towards a permanent home for children abondoned through war and disease.

Margaret Poulter, 69, of Burges Road, Southend, has been raising funds for eight years and works closely with charity co-ordinators in Nyendo, southwest of the capital Kampala.

Miss Poulter said: "People have been very supportive. My church, Thorpe Bay Methodist, gave £1,000.

"There was £2,000 raised from cubs doing jobs for art groups and I did quite well at a one coffee morning, which raised £200, and donations brought it up to £311."

Miss Poulter's connection with Uganda began when she was working for a housing association in London, alongside a Ugandan colleague Duncan Kibaya who later returned to his home country to found the River of Life Church.

In 1999, his organisation took 22 boys living on the streets to live within the church building.

The boys called themselves "the White Eagle Boys" which has led to the White Eagle Project to build a permanent home for 32 children.

Uganda has one of the world's highest percentage of orphaned children, with 19 per cent of children orphaned by Aids and civil conflict.

Originally set up for boys, the project is now also looking after six young girls, one of who is a baby.

Miss Poulter explained: "Baby Mercy was found abandoned in a saucepan and was brought to the church.

"Another girl who was raped and gave birth to a child was found to be living in appalling conditions.

"All the children get a full education and we have two boys who will probably go to university."

An accommodation block of six bedrooms has now been completed.

A further £25,000 is needed to be raised by the end of the year to complete the building project.

Anyone wishing to find out more information or make a donation, should contact www.riveroflifeuganda.org

9:21am Monday 30th June 2008

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