Ashley and Sara Peatfield from Leeds began visiting the island of Funzi in 1993.
In March 2006 Ashley discovered that the village well on Funzi had a broken hand pump and people were drinking infected and potentially life threatening water.The bore holes are the only source of fresh water. A call for help was made and Harrogate based wealth management company Transglobe Investments offered to pay the costs of repairing the pump and have the water cleaned. Specialist work was then undertaken to seal the well to stop further infections or for debris to get into the supply.
At the same time Ashley discovered an abandoned building which had once been used as a clinic.
He heard how it had been empty for 20 years The stories of babies dying and women giving birth in canoes- because they couldn’t get to a hospital or afford the fees- made him realise that something had to be done. Moved by these stories Ashley and Richard Cook from Transglobe Investments made plans to re-open the clinic and to develop a much more far reaching operation .
The idea of The Funzi and Bodo Trust was born . It would be an independent registered charity . It would rely on the goodwill and donations of ordinary people but Transglobe would continue to be a major supporter and sponsor.
Both Ashley and Richard have recently returned from their latest visit to Funzi and will be posting updates here shortly.
Visit the Funzi and Bodo Trust website here
