Voluntary work in Zambia

I refer to the feature entitled 'Mission: It's possible' by Jo Caruana (The Sunday Times, August 17), on my voluntary work in Lusaka, Zambia's capital.

A month has now passed since my arrival in Lusaka to undertake voluntary work with Breakthrough Sports Academy (BSA), a small independent school of sports and life for the children and youths living around the Northmead, Garden, Chilulu, Emersdale and Kalingalinga residential compounds.

I would like to thank all those who have shown an interest in this undertaking and supported the project following the publication of the article.

It has taken a lot of patience and joint effort by all those who helped ensure the safe arrival of the goods donated from Malta.

But I can now assure everyone that, even after the difficulties we had in releasing the donated goods from customs in Lusaka, all the sporting equipment provided by the generosity of the Maltese, have been accounted for and collected. I cannot thank enough all those individuals and organisations who made donations to pay for the freight of the goods and import duties on arrival in Zambia.

I thank those who contributed sportswear that will be used by BSA to participate in the football leagues; and all those who have sent words of encouragement and prayers directly to me, these have proved to be the 'extra man' on the field when circumstances looked dire.

The support of family and friends has been crucial in making this possible, while I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the Maltese people to a 'perfect stranger'. Once again, the unity of our population has helped bring peace and happiness to children and families far from our shores.

I can assure readers of The Sunday Times that their efforts are greatly appreciated by all at BSA, whose thank-you messages and pictures may also be viewed on my web-blog at www.yesfordevelopment.weebly.org.