Kirsty Bate has arrived back in England after a seven month placement in Ethiopia with Siiqqee Women's Development Association (SWDA), where she offered vital office and administrative support. The placement was financed and supported by LUCIA.

LUCIA has learned a lot from Kirsty's placement and the experience has enriched and expanded the charity's knowledge of the struggles the young orphan girls and women's support groups have to encounter every day. If we, the trustees, had any thoughts of easing off from our enthusiastic work, they've been shattered by the sad stories Kirsty has told to us.

With my husband and other members of the LUCIA team, I've visited Ethiopia many times and we all look forward to returning to what is a hard but colourful country, where the people are warm, proud, generous and beautiful.

On behalf of LUCIA I'd like to say a big thank you to Kirsty for all her hard work and the commitment she has shown. This is also a good opportunity to thank you, the donors, for all your support and generosity throughout the years. We hope you'll continue to support us in the future and if you'd like to do more please get in touch. Without you there'd be no LUCIA.

Last month, Jeff Bynon reported that he and a colleague, Kevin Webster, were taking in part in the Liverpool Half Marathon in aid of LUCIA.

We're pleased to say that both Jeff and Kevin completed the grueling course in superb form, raising much needed funds for LUCIA's projects. We are very grateful to Jeff and Kevin for all the hard work they have put into this!