The Tigre Trust

Technical college lecturer David Wright, of Shipley, went to Eritrea under the Voluntary Services Overseas scheme about eight years ago.

He found appalling poverty caused by the war for independence against neighbouring Ethiopia.

Ending his contract, he decided to stay and help in any way he could. An engineer by profession, David finds much of his effort spent in dealing with medical problems.

The country has one doctor for every 42,000 people, even fewer in the northern region of Sahel where David has based himself.

He says: "I am an engineer, not a doctor, but I can't turn my back on them."

The people of Tigre -- an area comprising parts of Ethiopia and Sudan as well as Eritrea - have much pride in themselves and their country.

Stimulating economic performance is one of David's objectives. The farming prospects are good and people can grow vegetables for market. But there is no market and no means of transport to move produce to more populated areas.

Even the railway lines have been dug up to provide support for roofs battered by the war.

Rotary Clubs in the Bradford area helped to form a charity -- the Tigre Trust. The trust spends its modest income on various projects, like the gift of £5 to enable a woman to buy pots, pans and cups so she could open a roadside caf.

Much of the money goes on medical help. There is only one small hospital in the country and the journey to reach it can be long and risky.

Hope and Homes for Children

This charity aims to give hope to children worldwide who have nowhere to live due to war or disaster, by providing them with loving family homes.

The causes of their deprivation are: conflict (Eritrea, Sierra Leone and Yugoslavia), institutionalisation (Romania and elsewhere in Eastern Europe), genocide (Rwanda) and Aids (sub-Saharan Africa).

All the schemes focus on one aim -- ensuring children have a loving, stable family home.

By the end of October, the charity had provided family homes for 1,755 children. There are many thousands still needing this help.

It is difficult to describe in a few words the indescribably grim conditions in which so many children exist (you cannot call it living).

Perhaps an eyewitness account helps. "During my visit to Romania I saw many terrible things ... we would walk into a room full of high barred cage cots, with many children in straitjackets, slowly rocking backwards and forwards against the bars and in many cases rocking into madness. I find a hand that gently squeezes mine ... a confused smile appears, so rare is the feeling of touch or love."

Turning to a brighter side, it is wonderful to see how the children adapt to their new families. Their lives have changed forever and not only this, the lives of their children, grandchildren and their entire community as well.

The Nepal Trust

The trust was formed in 1993 to bring health and education to the most inhospitable area in the world. This is the Humla region, 250 miles north-west of Kathmandu.

The nearest hospital is 14 days walk away, there are 42,000 inhabitants with just one doctor and the infant mortality rate is 20-30 per cent.

The trust has built three out of six planned health centres. With local villagers trained as health workers, much of the suffering caused by ill-health is being avoided.

There is a women's welfare service working to improve literacy, health and community education.

Work on the development of clean water and proper sanitation is continuing, and this shows benefits in the people's health and well-being.

A major project is redeveloping the non-functional Simikot hospital, which will bring a medical faculty closer -- between two hours to two days walk.

The trust is also trying to set up income-producing undertakings to provide the funds needed for the upkeep of the work already done. Already started are a guest house and restaurant in Simikot and encouraging trekking to bring a different kind of tourism to the area.

The longer term objective is to create more self-sustaining income-producing businesses. These will allow the Humli people to earn a living, continue their health centres and keep their sense of self-worth without having to beg for handouts from the Western world.

Donations to any or all of these charities are always welcome and can be made to: Rotarian John Broughton, Solicitor, 31 Devonshire Street, Keighley BD21 2BH.