Tickets go on sale for African-style dinner dance in Sidmouth to raise funds to build a school in Tanzania

GET those taste buds ready for action for a Taste of Tanzania dinner dance, which takes place at Knowle, Sidmouth, next month to raise money to build a school in Buturi.

Tanzanian-born Judith Smith, who runs Sanaa House, Sidmouth, is behind the project to get a school built in the village where she grew up.

Thanks to the generosity of Sidmouth Herald and Exmouth Journal readers, the Buturi Makongoro Project has already supplied a water pump to give villagers fresh water.

Now a more ambitious plan to provide a school with at least four classrooms, toilets and kitchen, is underway.

With plans drawn up by Exmouth architect Malcolm Gigg, Sidmouth builder Mick Rose – whose wife Tracey runs Mia in Church Street – has volunteered to travel to Tanzania in May with Judith and builder friend Joe Fallow from Leicestershire, to lay the foundations for the first phase of the school.

Buturi charity trustees are selling 120 tickets (priced �30 each) for the black tie event on Saturday, March 19, which starts at 6pm and ends at midnight.

During the evening Judith and Chris Woodward, Sidmouth College’s trustee, will give a presentation about the project from its beginnings to where it is now. Malcolm’s plans will also be unveiled.

“We will have tables for 10 and there will be 20 students from Sidmouth College and four from the YMCA helping to serve at tables and wash up,” said Judith.

Volunteers will help supervise the serving of food, which is being prepared by Sidmouth chefs Nicola Davey from Baraza, and Jerry Gosling, manager of Mustard Seed.

“Judith does such a fantastic thing fundraising and it feels a privilege to be involved in raising money for such a good cause,” said Nicola.

Jerry added: “It is good to be involved in something so far-reaching, which meets the needs of others who live a long way away.”

Judith said she was delighted with the community spirit behind the project and said 30 shops were displaying collecting tins for Buturi for people to donate �1 for a brick badge to help build the school.

Villagers are making bricks as a way of contributing towards the school build.

*If you would like tickets for Taste of Africa see Judith at Sanaa House, High Street, or call (01395) 513311.