EAST Tynedale charities have joined forces to improve conditions for children in South Africa.

Stocksfield-based organisation, Hope for South Africa’s Children (HFSAC) has poured funds into a project run by Prudhoe charity, Spirit of Africa.

In 2001, David and Glen Smith of HFSAC helped to establish Rehoboth Children’s Village in KwaZulu Natal.

The village cares for children with HIV/AIDS and 80 children currently live in small group homes with a Zulu house mother.

The Stocksfield charity raises up to £50,000 a year through child sponsorship and support from the local community.

A proportion of this money goes to support a number of other rural community projects.

And the charity is now working in partnership with Prudhoe-based Spirit of Africa.

The charity’s Ithembalihle project is based in Sankotshe, KwaZulu Natal in the Valley of a Thousand Hills.

The project provides a foster home and pre-school for children without a home or suitable carer.

And thanks to a £3,500 donation from HFSAC, two new toilet blocks will soon be in place at an accommodation block at the project.

Previously, the 14 children sleeping there had to use a ‘long drop’ toilet some distance away.

Spirit of Africa trustee Carol Tree travelled to the Valley of a Thousand Hills last week with four volunteers to oversee the work.

Alongside Lorraine and Garry Thomson, George Feeney and Grant Younger, she will help to build the new facilities.