A 21-year-old Poplar youth worker will make an emotional trip to Uganda in May to donate clothes to orphans and visit her mother’s grave for the first time.

Vanita Atim, of Zetland Street, is raising funds for her three-week journey, the first time she will have left the UK, which will also allow her to meet the father she hasn’t seen since she was three years old.

Under the banner of Uniforms United, she has collected over 70 school uniforms to give to poor child orphans and will also take books, notepads and journals to help them in their education.

When Vanita was 18, her mother, Lillian Kiden, died aged 38 after suffering from a brain virus and she will now be able to pay her respects at her final resting place.

The pair had lived together in east London and she met her father, Richard Solomon Molundo, as a child but he had to return to the east African country.

She said: “I’m scared, nervous and excited all at the same time.

“I’ve always been longing to go but there was no point just going and not trying to help at the same time.

“When my mum died, I was left on my own, so it was almost like being an orphan.

“I know what it is like to carry on and now I can see what it is like for young girls in Uganda, where it must be even harder.”

Children at Holy Family, Manorfield, St Matthias and St Saviour’s primary schools have already made donations to Vanita’s cause and she now plans to approach secondary schools in the borough including Raine’s and Bishop Challoner.

Vanita’s journey was inspired by her work with the V Talent group who train youth workers and are based in Mulberry Place.

To make a donation, contact Vanita on 07944 327759 or email vanitaatim@hotmail.co.uk.