A SOPRANO singer will swap Wharfedale for Africa this week, when she flies out to see a charity’s work at first hand.

Elizabeth Frankland, of Otley, is travelling to Rwanda and Uganda at her own expense to find out more about Asante Ministries.

The organisation, which Elizabeth has supported for many years by staging concerts and other fundraising events, cares for children in some of the continent’s poorest countries.

Promoting education through child sponsorship, it also holds fundraising activities to pay for new schools, equipment and supply teachers to help children build a brighter future for themselves and their homeland.

Elizabeth will also meet two people she has been sponsoring since they were very young, university student Sarah and 14-year-old Jonathon, during her visit.

She said: “I feel extremely privileged to be able to visit these countries to actually see what the money I have raised has been used for.

“I would like to see if there is anything else I can do to help these very poor children.

“I am also very excited to be visiting Sarah and Jonathon, two children I have personally sponsored over the last 13 years, and to see how they are doing and find out how their lives have changed through the sponsorship scheme.”

On her return from Rwanda, the singer will be organising and performing in another charity Christmas concert to help raise more funds for the cause, and hopes it will encourage more people to sponsor a child, which costs £18 per month.

The Dale Eddison-sponsored concert will be held at 7pm on Saturday, November 29, at Christchurch, Ilkley, and also feature The Ashlands Primary School Choir, professional oboist Liz Kenwood, and accompanist Peter Reasbeck.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Mike Gibbons (Con, Ilkley), and the Lady Mayoress Elizabeth Sharp, will be among those attending.

Tickets cost £8 per adult, under 16s free, refreshments included. Tickets from The Coffee Centre at Christchurch or by calling Pat Stockdale on 01132 842841 or Adam Frankland on 01943 463039.