A KIND-HEARTED Ruthin man has raised more than £1,500 for a Kenyan children's institute through making a real difference in his own community.

Upon turning 44 years old in March, Jozsef Vass wanted to start up an unusual fundraising campaign and decided to do so on behalf of Lucy's children's institute.

Run by Lucy Achieng Agenga, who Jozsef met in June of last year, the Kenyan charity provides working opportunities and food for their beneficiaries who are mostly widowed mothers, orphans and others in need.

In order to raise money for the institute, Jozsef set off on a journey of litter-picking, pavement cleaning and more to hit his fundraiser's (#Lucy'sDream) target.

He spent hours tidying up the 60 zone on the A525 between Ruthin and Llanfair DC and has so far raised £1,550 (correct at time of writing) which has gone towards buying life-changing garden elements for Lucy's.

The money has so far helped build a compost toilet site, paid for tuition fees and school equipment for five high schoolers and for many more in primary schools.

In his latest venture, 'Grab A Shovel', Jozsef - a taxi driver in his day job - is digging dirt off pavements in the area.

He said: "I'm digging the dirt off a long pavement along a busy road where the overgrown vegetation makes it unsafe to walk, saving thousands of pounds for the county council at the same time.

"I moved to Wales from Hungary five years ago and I have been volunteering since the very first time because I wanted to give back to the community that was so inclusive with me and with my family."

Jozsef added that he wanted to 'do something that was challenging but also good for the town'.

His work started with litter picking along a busy road in rough terrain which had become an eyesore. It took a month but he successfully cleared out the area.

Unfortunately he couldn't reach out to a wider part of the public and donations couldn't pay for all the building materials for the compost toilet site they planned.

He knew he needed a bolder challenge and, even though he says Denbighshire County Council discouraged him to do this pavement cleaning outside Ruthin – as it is in the 60mph zone on the A525 between Ruthin and Llanfair DC – he grabbed a shovel and started back cutting the grass and digging the soil from above the pavement on Wrexham road.

Jozsef added: "I did it for three weeks and I got several likes and encouraging words. Unfortunately, the level of donations on the fundraising page weren’t reflecting my efforts."

But then Neil Connor, from Llandyrnog joined him with a shovel and suddenly they started to make real progress.

Then, it only took a few days to raise the missing amount to get this compost toilet ready to use.

Jozsef added: "There’s still a lot to improve in this community to give a chance for these children and other disadvantaged people to survive and to thrive."

Denbighshire Free Press:

PIC: Lucy's Children's Institute is benefitting from Jozsef's fundraisers.

Jozsef keeps digging the dirt off this dangerous pavement in his spare time and has raised money for tuition fees and school stuff for four more children.

He says the next step is to get solar energy for the children allowing them to learn in the evenings.

To donate, go to: uk.gofundme.com/f/save-lucys-children-institute