Reg.Charity No. 1105383
Reg.Charity No. 1105383
Our History
In the 1980's Roy and Lesley Fyles supported an ex-chemist in the Copper belt region of Zambia with the children he had staying in his orphanage. They housed them in their own home when the late Ted Blackmore MBE brought them over to the U.K. for medical treatment. They also collected clothing and toys for the children and saw them air freighted out to Zambia. Unfortunately Ted died and the work came to an end. Roy and Lesley had intended to go out before Ted died but it was thought impossible, as they didn't speak the local language, Bemba.
Some ten years later when Roy and Lesley had officially retired and moved to the Holyhead area of Anglesey and joined a new church they met with another couple that had an orphanage in the same copper belt area of Zambia, after helping to collect clothing etc once again. They were offered a chance to go over on a working party, which they did. To raise funds for this Roy and Lesley had actually been forced to rent a temporary shop because of the vast amount of clothing and furniture coming into the church premises. That along with other donations paid for a party of four to go out and help. Over the next ten years they came and went to and from the orphanage learning not only to speak a little of the local language, but also of the culture and African life in general, multitasking in most areas and fell in love with the Zambian people in general.
It has however been Lesley’s dream to work in East Africa, where her Uncle had lived for forty years. He brought home artifacts from Africa, especially those from the Massai people, with whom Lesley has a special place in her heart. As they said previously they learnt a lot about cultural issues and they decided to open their own orphanage in Tanzania where their daughter lives. 
The first thing they did was to have a look around a few of the other orphanages in the area. One orphanage in particular where forty children where being housed in a small hut sleeping up to four to a bed was obviously in dire need of help. Over the following two years a feeding programe was set up by African Orphans UK. Also a clean water tank was installed to save the children walking twice a day to a river a mile away. We also provided education for four of the older children at the local secondary school. We also provided medical needs. We purchased a further piece of land along side the original building.
An American lady who as a tourist passing on a Safari to the Arusha National Park stopped to have look at the orphanage. On her return home she decided to raise money to purchase further land and build a new building which has now been completed.
Roy and Lesley then decided to consult the local social services to see if their idea of opening an orphanage would meet with approval. The social services officer took them to see a childrens remand center in town to see the living conditions and to see if we could help in some way. The boys dormitory housed thirty boys aged between eleven and sixteen and only eleven beds between them. The beds had spring frames tied together with plastic bags, two inch thick foam mattresses full of holes. only one or two blankets between them. They washed in one bucket of water as the showers and plumbing needed completly replacing. They had no towels or soap. They had only the clothes they wore. They also had only one meal a day consisting of ugali (maize meal) and beans.
After Roy and Lesley consulted with the Trustees of the Charity, African Orphans UK put a food programe into action, had fifteen steel bunk beds made and provided blankets, pillows, mosquito nets, towels and soap. They also provided medicines, games, books and clothes. Thanks to the people of Holyhead and other sponsors £3000 was raised in a very short time to provide for the project. For further ongoing work with the centre see project remand centre.
For the work done at the remand centre Roy and Lesley on behalf of African Orphans UK where pesented with a certificate of appreciation by the Tanzanian Goverment
The next job was to register as an N.G.O with the Tanzanian Goverment so that we can run our own orphanages.
It was decided the needs were great and there is an urgency to help. It was unrealistic for such a small charity to be able to put its hands on such vast amounts of money to able them to buy at least ten acres of land, build and sustain a project of that magnitude. So as a starter and temporary measure they and the Trustees decided to rent a property to take up to a maximum of twenty four children and three babies, a mere drop in a big ocean, but when needs must. It is hoped to be able to open its doors in December 2006.
While Lesley was out there in September She had the awesome responsibility of telling a dying mother that we would take her children and raise them. So we already have four children, who will come to us in the not too distant future. The rest of the children will be referred to us from the social services. This way a proper check can be made as to the proof of the children being true orphans.
In the light of the [Madonna] incident we would just like to say there are so many children in need of real help even when they have parents, one parent or a grandmother or extended family.
