The Newport-based Charity, Health Help International (HHI), was 25 in November 2024. From small beginnings, it has raised almost £4 million pounds to support the most deprived people in Zambia and India.
Its dedicated team of volunteers give not only their time, energy, expertise and experience freely, but also pay for the UK running costs so that every penny given by its supporters is sent abroad.
Currently its work is in two parts of the world – Monze in the Southern Province of Zambia, and near Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram) in the state of Kerala in India as well as in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu.
To celebrate its 25th anniversary the Charity set itself a target of raising £25,000 to build a new dormitory for disabled students at the Choongo school in Zambia. There were 60 residential students but only 48 beds in the existing dormitory. The appeal for funds met with a great response from its supporters in Wales and England and, thanks to the efforts of SFHHI and with a generous donation from the committee of the Round Strathaven 50, (see the report on the 2026 RS50 in the events section) more than half of the £25,000 which was ultimately raised was generated in Strathaven.
The new dormitory was successfully built and was opened on 23rd October 2024 – see details of this in the report in the news section of the visit of Jute Williams and Kath Russell to Zambia.