Carmarthenshire building cadet on charity mission to Uganda

The hot sunshine of an African summer is beckoning for one of Carmarthenshire County Council’s building cadets who’s preparing for a charity mission over 5,000 miles away in Uganda.
Layton Davies, 23, will join other local tradesmen from TAD Builders Ltd and TRJ Ltd to oversee the construction of a new maternity unit for poverty-stricken families in Kachumbala.
The project is being run by Engineers for Overseas Development (EFOD) Carmarthenshire, established by the local construction industry in 2012 to benefit communities in impoverished countries.
Far from the cosy life he shares with his girlfriend Chynna in Llandybie, Layton is preparing to work long shifts on the building site in the scorching sunshine of Kachumbala.
Staying in a ‘simple’ complex nearby, where electricity is intermittent, the former TRJ bricklayer and Ysgol Tregib pupil will spend two weeks on the project, where he will work with locals to pass on his trade skills and get hands-on with the build.
This will be Layton’s second visit to the village – his first, in 2014, saw him help build a mill and grain store for a widow’s farming cooperative, a project which won him and his teammates a national construction industry award, something he describes as ‘an amazing experience’.
“Everything is completely different over there,” he said. “Here, getting materials for a job is a phonecall to the builder’s merchant, but over there we have to go in to the town and haggle for materials! It’s a bit of an eye-opener. I also had the privilege of being joined in the shower by a bat, which doesn’t tend to happen back home!
“I was nervous first time I went, as it was a step in to the unknown, but I’m looking forward to getting back out there – I only found out a few weeks ago, and I’ll be leaving next week. It will be hard work but I will enjoy it – it’s good to be doing something that will help the community over there, parts of it are really poor.”
Back in Carmarthenshire, Layton is one of the council’s five building cadets – a unique chance for qualified tradesmen to study for a foundation degree in construction management whilst being supported in employment.
“As a building cadet I work with the building services team, looking after property maintenance for houses and schools,” he said. “I’m around halfway through my degree now - I’d like to finish that and eventually become a building inspector with the council.”
Christina Harrhy, Director of Environment for Carmarthenshire County Council, has wished him well for his travels.
“It is great that Layton is able to use the skills that he has developed here in Carmarthenshire to really make a difference to the daily lives of those in Kachumbala,” she said. “I’m sure he will find the work hard but really rewarding. I am so proud of Layton, he is a fantastic ambassador for the council.”
Keep up with Layton on his travels!

Technology permitting, he is planning a video diary of his trip.

Check for updates on Newsroom and@CarmsCouncil on Twitter from February 25