I’ve always loved animals, and I’ve always been fascinated by Africa. I founded Four Steps to Freedom – originally called ‘Friends of Mbwa Wa Africa Animal Rescue’ – in 2015, to help build a safer, happier future for the children and animals of Tanzania.
I first visited Tanzania in 2013. On the final day of that trip – which began as the holiday of a lifetime – I visited a local orphanage, where I was horrified to find 36 children sharing six beds and living in terrible conditions. I knew at once that I had to help them: I went home, began fundraising, and by 2015 had raised enough to build them a new, modern orphanage where they can now grow up in safety and comfort.
It was during a return visit to Tanzania, whilst accompanying the children to a social work meeting in Meserani, that I first saw the impact of rabies in the town.
I just knew I had to do something.
I set up Four Steps to Freedom as a charity registered in Scotland (registered name: Friends of Mbwa Wa Africa Animal Rescue) in 2015 and since then, I’ve dedicated every spare moment to raising funds and awareness to stop rabies in Tanzania.
In 2016, the team in Tanzania got in touch to tell me that a dog called Gongo had been brought to the shelter, horribly injured following a brutal attack. He had lost a leg; part of his face had been destroyed and local vets were unable to save him. I couldn’t bear to think of his suffering, so I arranged to have him flown here to my home in Glasgow, where my local vet was willing to operate on him free of charge. Gongo made a full recovery, and has been part of my family ever since: living proof of the sweet nature and incredible resilience of the dogs of Tanzania.
If you would like to know anything more about Four Steps to Freedom, our work and how you can get involved, I’d love to hear from you.