Policewoman plans Rwandan visit
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| DESTINATION RWANDA: PC Amber Thorne will visit Rwanda for a month in February and she is trying to raise £30,000 for charity Streets Ahead |
A POLICEWOMAN is swapping patrolling the streets of Waltham Forest for helping street children in Rwanda.
PC Amber Thorne, 24, who works at Walthamstow police station, is attempting to raise £30,000 for charity Streets Ahead, which is based in the East African country.
It helps to improve the lives of homeless children and young girls forced into prostitution.
She is asking each Metropolitan Police officer to donate £1 so that she can meet her target and she thinks there are more than 30,000 police officers in London.
When she visits Rwanda, PC Thorne will teach street children how to play, cook and motivate themselves.
She said she was inspired to go to Rwanda because her friends Naomi and Mark Ogle set up the charity after meeting a Rwandan street child.
They decided to emigrate there and devote their lives to helping more street children.
"I have been given a giant hopscotch game to take with me and my friends have asked me to teach the children games like mother goose and hop scotch.
"Two of my friends were so inspired by what I’m doing they have decided to come with me", she added.
PC Thorne will go to Rwamagana, Rwanda, in February and will spend the entire month there before returning to Waltham Forest to patrol the borough’s streets.
She helped to organise an X-Factor for Rwanda event at SDA Central London Church, Crawford Place, near Edgware Road, on Saturday to raise funds.
l If you would like to make a donation to the cause or for more information, email PC Thorne on amber.c.thorne@met.police.uk.
