A jazz musician from Biggleswade is hoping to bring a little music to the hearts of orphans in Georgia.

Peter Sarno, 18, is hoping to visit Mamatsi Gula, or 'heart of the brave' – a children's eco village in the small post-Soviet country in the Caucasus region.

The jazz pianist, from Windermere Drive, is planning to head out to the country with his girlfriend in September and help the youngsters form a percussion orchestra.

He said: "Georgia is a very economically poor country and an extortionate number of children are abandoned on the street and in the orphanage system. The eco village provides foster families for some of these children and is a registered charity.

"It's not just to teach music, it's to show the children how to live a little and how to be children. We're also bringing footballs and things like that, so I'll be teaching football too."

As well as providing foster families the village is helping to set up a farmers' co-operative to help them sustain themselves by working the land in traditional Georgian ways.

He added: "I have huge enthusiasm and interest in the developing countries' music. I have been learning how to help motivate young people to follow their dreams and set up their own projects and I want to offer disadvantaged young people of Georgia opportunities like I have had."

Peter has already been holding fundraising activities to help finance the trip, but still needs to raise more and is looking for sponsors.
If you think you could help him out, contact him on 07845 626464 or 01767 223021.