A TEIGNMOUTH mother has been to Africa to see for herself how money raised by a local charity is being spent on supporting orphaned children.

Caroline Phillips, 44, is a supporter of Operation Imprezza, and visited Matayos for three weeks in western Kenya.

She helped at an orphanage and school and was accompanied by Chris Hulme, one of the trustees of the charity, and Brian Hodge, a teacher-magician.

Caroline, a teacher, was impressed with the set-up and described the headteacher, Catherine Omanyo, as 'a young Mother Teresa', who wanted to provide the best possible educational opportunities for as many orphans and vulnerable children as she could.

Plans for a new school had been approved, funding was being completed, and the land purchased, fenced and secured with gates and a watchman's house.

'The state of the little kids was quite shocking at first. Most had no shoes, wore ripped, dirty clothes, and many had HIV sores and infections.

'Some of the girls had their dresses falling off them as the zips are broken,' said Caroline.

She helped choose girls and boys who needed uniforms, and handed over £200 from a raffle at the Ship Inn, Teignmouth, which was used to buy buildings materials to complete a fourth classroom.

Caroline recalled that all the kids stared at them because the village was so far off the tourist map, she was probably the first white woman they had seen.

'In fact, a couple of children screamed when they saw us because we looked so different. I dressed in an African dress, learned some Swahili, and practiced walking with my backpack on my head to whoops of laughter from the kids. Some wanted to stroke my hair because it was such a novelty!'

Other highspots included organising a skipping competition and watching a singing and dancing show.

'Some of the students made up some funny skits, which had us all in stitches. The touching parts were seeing these shy, hard working and obedient children perform the most amazing tribal songs and dances.'

Caroline said she had always wanted to go to Africa and looked around for a project she felt passionate about.

The Teignmouth Baptist Church put her in touch with Operation Imprezza, which has raised a lot of money for the children.

Caroline is pictured walking with the children to lunch at a pastor's house.