Sign up to the GrimsbyLive newsletter for daily updates and breaking news Sign up here! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A North Lincolnshire couple who started an organisation to promote social inclusion in Tanzania are aiming to launch the next stage of their project.

Laura Cox and Keith Williamson established Nations Together, which they hope will help make a lasting difference for those with learning difficulties.

The couple, who lived in Tanzania for six years, were moved to start the organisation after seeing the challenges faced in Africa by disabled people.

Their non-governmental organisation has made a big impact on the lives of the people it helps, and they are hoping to open their first purpose-built facility.

Laura said: "There is a lot of stigma about disabilities there but we've helped to open people's eyes to the reality. We've helped them to understand the causes of learning difficulties, which they might have previously thought was a curse or possession by a demon.

"We spoke to some of the mums and dads of our service users recently and they told us what a significant impact it's made to their lives. Our next step it to establish our own facility."

(Image: Submitted Picture)

Nations Together offers trained community support workers to work with adults in their home environment to aid social inclusion and acceptance within local villages and tribes.

It covers a 50-mile radius in Tanzania, including the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Laura and Keith are hoping to start work on a facility in three acres of land they own, which would offer an improved service for the people with disabilities who they support.

"Currently, our six full-time employees transport people here for one day a week," Laura said. But in the rainy season, the weather can be torrential and it can be difficult to reach people for months at a time.

(Image: Submitted Picture)

"With a purpose-built facility, we could offer people accommodation to stay here.

"We're also hoping to create vocational programmes like animal husbandry and crop growing which could help them, as well as opportunities to pursue their own interests."

The couple, who live in Barnetby, are flying back out to Tanzania in February and would appreciate the help of any volunteers who wish to support the organisation.

Anyone who wishes to help Nations Together with its goal of building a new facility can do so through its website.

Follow or contact Scunthorpe Live

Contact us: Email the reporter who wrote this story .

Follow Scunthorpe Live on Facebook - Like our Facebook page to get the latest news in your feed and join in the lively discussions in the comments. Click here to give it or message us with a comment or story