A TEENAGER says his “whole perspective has changed” after a “life-shaping” trip to help orphans in Tanzania.

Brothers Suleyman and Ali Ullah, of Wanstead Park Avenue, Aldersbrook, decided they wanted to take part in Islamic Help’s eco village project earlier this year after a friend said the experience “changed his life”.

The 16 and 14-year-old packed their bags on August 9, arriving in Dar es Salaam ready to travel to the north eastern province of Pangani.

Suleyman said: “When we arrived in Pangani we saw a lot of extreme poverty – some of the housing conditions there were really horrible.

“But when we got to one of the villages we organised a sports day for the children at school and they absolutely loved it.”

The 16-year-old and his brother Ali were only given three families of cows and three solar panel systems to share between 10 people in the next village they visited.

He said: “It was very difficult to choose between them, because all 10 were in need, but we could only help six.

“We changed our minds five or six times, but telling the ones who missed out was the hardest part. It was pretty heart breaking.”

For the second part of their trip, the brothers returned to the Mkurunga district near Dar es Salaam, where Islamic Help’s eco village is based.

Set up in March 2012, the 30-acre village runs completely on green energy and will soon include the region’s first eco mosque.

When complete the village will be able to accommodate 160 of Tanzania’s 3.1 million orphan population, many of whom have lost their parents to AIDS.

The Ullahs helped plant trees and organise various activities with the children living in the village, including a trip to the funfair.

Suleyman said: “I couldn’t believe how much they loved the funfair.

“They never really get to go anywhere and just go from home to school to home every day, so they really enjoyed themselves.”

With the help of the Aldersbrook Jumble Trail and other community events, the brothers raised nearly £18,000 for Islamic Help.

After they returned home on August 18, their father Amer said he and his wife are “immensely proud” of their sons.

The 46-year-old added: “From the fund raising to implementing the new projects in the poor areas of the country, they equipped themselves with gusto in their undertakings.

“In their own words it was a life-shaping experience they would never have missed.”

The elder Ullah sibling returned a week ahead of his GCSE results, which he passed with flying colours and will allow him to go on to study maths, biology and chemistry at A Level.

He added: “What we experienced was a completely different world to the one we live in here.

“We have so much and yet we are never satisfied, and they have next to nothing and always strive to be happy.

“I would recommend doing it to anyone – it completely changes your perspective and teaches you not to take things for granted and cherish what you have.”

The brothers hope to return to Tanzania after their A Levels.

To donate to Islamic Help, see Suleyman’s JustGiving page.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Suleyman-Ullah