Rhondda Cynon Taff reaches out to Africa

Monday March 20 2006

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has extended the hand of friendship and partnership to Africa, following a cross-party agreement to support the Make Poverty History campaign by twinning with a town in Uganda.

Its new friendship with the African town is not twinning in the traditional sense, but is a pledge by the Council to Make Poverty History and join forces with people across the world who are struggling to make ends meet.

The Council has thrown its support behind the valleys-based organisation PONT (Pontypridd Overseas Network Trust) following a motion tabled by Cllr Clayton Willis and Cllr John David.

PONT formed in 2000 in order to provide practical solutions to Make Poverty History and began its work to join professional organisations in Pontypridd with their counterparts in Uganda’s Mbale District.

Since then, 50 people, such as medics, teachers and community workers, have visited their partners in Mbale to share good practice and work to combat poverty. Twenty three people from Mbale have visited Pontypridd. Four Pontypridd schools have partner schools in the Mbale district.

PONT’s campaign to create more professional partnerships continue, with Rhondda Cynon Taf Council joining the movement this.

Its stunning location set among rolling hills is not the only similarly Mbale has with Pontypridd. Both regions have a strong cultural heritage and the family and community values run throughout. Blackberries and music are also popular in both towns!

As a result of the work of PONT, 120 goats have been sent to children in order to provide them with food and an income, 3000 mosquito nets have been brought, preventing the deaths of an estimated 1,000 people from Malaria.

Cllr Willis, who is Cabinet member for Childrens’ Services, Council Business and Human Resources, said: “This is a way for us as a local authority to show our solidarity with the people of Mbale in Uganda. The Make Poverty History Campaign has really captured peoples’ imagination and this is a practical way of showing our support.

“It’s about recognising what people in Mbale have achieved and moving away from the idea of just sending small amounts of aid.”

Cllr John David, Cabinet member for Social Care, added: “The gap between the world’s rich and poor has never been wider. Malnutrition, AIDS, conflict and illiteracy are a daily reality for millions.

“Most people in Mbale go without health care and around 150 children out of every 1,000 will die before they reach the age of five. PONT is all about giving people the opportunity to empower themselves and twinning up with all levels of society.“

Mbale is Uganda's third largest town, set in the foothills of Mount Elgon in the east of the country. It is about three hours drive from the capital, Kampala.