Mission to Africa (From Barry And District News)

Mission to Africa

WONDER woman Tina Evans has just returned from her latest jaunt to Zambia to help make a difference to the lives of sick and disadvantaged youngsters.

And what a difference she has made.

Tina, manager of a team of support workers at the Amy Evans Centre on Holton Road, originally travelled to the African country with her partner Mark Davies last year.

Mark, a singer and a support worker, had been asked by the Rotary Club of Lusaka to perform a Neil Diamond act to raise funds for the Kasisi orphanage, a home catering for babies and children with Aids.

Tina, of Rhoose, was so touched and saddened when she first-handedly witnessed the dying babies, and set about raising even more money as soon as she returned home.

So, with a car full of donations, including 40 boxes of SMA baby formula, generously provided by the people of Barry and the Vale, Tina and Mark left South Wales and headed for Zambia at the end of last year.

"It was as if we had given them the world," said Tina, referring to the small gifts of pens, crayons, baseball caps and yo-yos she and Mark had presented to the children.

"Despite the hardships over there, everyone was smiling and happy and we never felt threatened.

"No-one ever asked us for anything and they were really grateful for what we gave them."

Last year, Tina and Mark helped set up a treatment room at the orphanage.

"If only you could have seen it," she said.

"It was hardly what you would call lavish, but there were medicines and a doctor who visited on a regular basis.

"And the toothbrushes and toothpaste we brought over last year had gone to good use, according to the American dentist who had been brought over.

"Also a big company had donated some second hand computers, and there was a bookshelf there with books from every culture. Staff there were really bringing the outside world in."

Tina and Mark also visited Choma during their stay, which Tina described as being "farm country".

A clinic had been set up in Choma in a tin shed by the wife of a businessman, where medical treatment is given for free.