Memories of a teenage trip spark a return visit to African township - building a better start for children . . .

A devoted couple have made it their goal to create a better start in life for the children of a South African township. Paul and Mary Khan, both 58 set up the charity Rainbow Kidz to build a pre-school for the youngsters. Paul, who runs The Bathroom Shop in High Street, Hornchurch, said "When Mary was 19 she went to South Africa to work in an orphanage for a year. Two babies were brought in having been dumped and she became godmother to them.
"She went back two-and-a-half years ago and one of the girls was running a pre-school from her home. When Mary saw the children who live in the poorest, underprivileged township her heart went out to them and she wanted to do something. She came home and we set up the charity".

The couple have been married for 38 years and live in South Woodford, aim to raise £50,000 through Rainbow Kidz to build the children´s centre in Grahamstown. The charity has been donated land by the local council for the centre, and before Christmas Paul and Peter went out and bought a large house on the edge of the plot. He said "This house is being converted into a pre-school at this moment, with the plot being fenced to be used as a play-ground. It will be ready for the children at the end of February.
"This is wonderful for the local poor township and the children, who while we were out there all dressed up to perform a nativity play for us. The future aim of the charity is to build a new multi-purpose community centre for mothers, young and unemployed people. It will be used to educate them, provide training in parenting skills and other subjects and raise awareness of Aids, which is why many of the children are orphaned.
Paul added: "We have to consider the future of the area. A pre-school centre is a vision for the future, but we can´t forget the adults".