A BRADFORD vicar and teacher are in Tanzania building up links to enrich the lives of children in their own city.

The Rev Jimmy Hinton, of St Matthew’s, Bankfoot, and East Bierley Primary School teacher Marcus Newby are on a two-week trip to see and experience education projects being supported by the new West Yorkshire Dales Diocese.

Links between the former Bradford Diocese and Tanzania began 1988 and so far hundreds of people from both countries have been on exchange trips, with more than £2million in funds raised to support a number of educational, health and agricultural projects.

This latest trip was organised by the Diocese’s education development officer, the Rev Gill Johnson, who said: “This is a great opportunity for them to gain first hand experience and to bring that back into their schools. In this way we hope that, despite the miles, this link with Tanzania will enrich the experiences and lives of our children here in West Yorkshire and the Dales.”

The trip will take in Bunda School, Mara Primary, Issenye Secondary and link schools in Tarime and Rorya. It will also spend time visiting some of the agricultural projects at Buhemba, water projects, village development projects in Mogabiri and the Rehema project and cafe in Musoma.

Mr Hinton will spend his time forging links with Bunda school and Mr Newby will use his first hand experience to make education packages to teach science, health and literacy.