100 volunteers join Conservative Party’s Project Umubano

Over 100 volunteers will travel to Africa this month to take part in Project Umubano, the Conservative Party’s social action project in Rwanda and Sierra Leone. The first group of volunteers arrived last week on Saturday. Party supporters will put to use their wide range of skills and experience to work across key areas of health, business, education, community, planning, justice and sport in Rwanda and Sierra Leone. UK Secretary of State for Overseas Development, Andrew Mitchell, is expected to join the group. Leader of the Project, MP Stephen Crabb said: “This year’s project builds on the fantastic work already done by the Conservative Party in Rwanda. The real driving force behind Umubano is our volunteers. I am delighted that so many will join us this year. There is a fantastic range of talent and experience within the Conservative Party, and the skill set of our group diversifies each year. “Across Rwanda, our specialist teams of medics, planners, lawyers and business consultants provide training, whilst our sports coaches bring fun to large numbers of children. Project Umubano is going from strength to strength.” The Project is in its sixth year with expanded teams going to both Sierra Leone and Rwanda. More than 100 volunteers have already signed up for the Project, which is entirely self-funded. Set up in 2007 by Prime Minister David Cameron and UK Secretary of State for Overseas Development, Andrew Mitchell (when the conservatives were still in the opposition), Project Umubano embodies the first involvement of a British political party with a social action initiative in the developing world. Led by Conservative MPs, the project covers a diverse range of areas. Volunteers work in core areas of Education, Business, Community Development, Health and Justice. Every year, since 2007 British Members of Parliament, Ministers, lawyers, nurses, business people, teachers and students have funded their own visit to help build a lasting legacy in Africa. Since 2007, more than 230 volunteers have participated in Project Umubano and many choose to return each year to continue the work they have been doing.

National

100 volunteers join Conservative Party’s Project Umubano