Grandmother Razia Amini's Gambian schools aid

Mrs Amini, of Heaton, is the north east regional co-ordinator for London-based charity Humanity First and despite 13 years of fundraising and sending supplies to countries in need – including Pakistan after the floods – this is the first time she will venture into Africa.

Setting off ahead of her is a 20ft crate she has filled with thousands of pairs of school trousers, shirts, jumpers and t-shirts, 200 desks and chairs as well as laptop computers, reading and writing books and stationery – all that she has successfully haggled over or been given free.

The money that has made it possible has come from fundraising across the north east region that Mrs Razia covers including Bradford.

The crate ships out next week and will take a month to reach its destination. Mrs Amini and three other Bradford women who support the charity will set off in May to spend ten days travelling round Gambia visiting the most isolated communities with schools and handing out the aid.

She said: “We’ve been working hard getting everything together and getting it all packed up into the crate. We’ve had to be very organised. All the uniforms have been put into ages and into big clear plastic bags to make it easier to hand out.”

The nine laptops were donated by St Mary & St Peter’s Primary School off Leeds Road. The clothing – including 1,100 pairs of shoes – and all the rest she got for almost pennies by constant bargain hunting and having “the cheek” to ask.

“You don’t get if you don’t ask. I don’t mind asking at all. People call me the bargain-hunter but I love it and I love telling people the prices I’ve paid!” she said.

Charity work is close to Mrs Razia’s heart. She also has links with the British Heart Foundation, the Curry Project in Otley Road and supporting the homeless.

To get involved with her fundraising for Gambia and other projects e-mail her at regionalrepnortheast@uk.humanityfirst.org