UK cuts funding to Downton-based charity EdUKaid has left 300 disabled children in Tanzania without an education.
An EdUKaid spokesperson said that funding by the UK government in July, 2020, to improve the lives of disabled children in Tanzania had been withdrawn just weeks from the project start date. The funding would have transformed the lives of more than 300 children and improved the life chances of generations of disabled children to come. Now, the children will remain without access to education and hidden away from society.
EdUKaid’s Programme Director said: “Less than 5% of disabled children in Tanzania are in any form of education and this project was set to change attitudes and transform lives. We cannot, and will not, let these children down and we will make every effort to secure funding to ensure the most marginalised children get the education they desperately need.”
The charity claimed the UK government reduced the spending target for aid to 0.5% of national income from 0.7%, in breach of a manifesto promise and despite it being enshrined in law. The prime minister called the move “temporary” because of the economic hit from the pandemic, but it triggered fury from aid agencies and MPs, especially as the impact of the cuts are starting to emerge. A cross-party group of more than 60 MPs and peers asked the government urgently to reconsider plans to cut UK overseas aid for lifesaving water projects to the poorest nations.
EdUKaid Trustees have written to Salisbury MP John Glen and ministers, and are urging supporters to contact their MP to ensure funding is reinstated as soon as possible.
More details on EdUKaid’s website www.edukaid.com or contact Teresa wells at teresa@eduakid.com.