A CITIZEN journalist who won a national competition to visit and report on a remote war-torn part of Africa, has had a taste of things to come.

Maya Deighton, 24, of Bushell Place, Preston, met with a delegation from the far-flung province of Uganda when they were in Preston last week.

Next time she sees them it will be on native soil in their homeland Gulu in September when she goes to report on the crisis there.

Maya, a reporter at the Preston Citizen's sister paper in Blackpool, entered a national competition organised by a government department. Her prize is to tour the country where many people have been badly affected by war and poverty.

She will report on a unique link that has been set up by Lancashire County Council and the council in Gulu, Uganda to promote cross-cultural friendship and exchange of ideas.

In Uganda, political strife has left the country in turmoil. People live in fear, and rebels try to overthrow the Government.

Now, the situation is improving and local people are trying to rebuild their lives. The Lancashire-Gulu link is trying to help that happen.

One visitor from Gulu told a packed audience in Preston: "We want to build a better future for our kids, one where there is hope, instead of grinding poverty."

Maya said: "I now feel as if I am going to visit good friends not just strangers."

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