by Hayley Robinson

A Sittingbourne grandmother has proved she is a winner on two continents.

Lyn De la Haye was voted granny of the month by community-based website Grannynet after she was nominated for the award by her daughter Charley for being a very special grandmother to her five grandchildren.

But what makes her extra special is she is also called granny by the children she teaches in a school in Kampala, Uganda.

The 55-year-old, of Reams Way, Kemsley, first travelled to the African country in March 2007 with her husband, David, for six months with an organisation called Mission Direct.

They were in charge of teams of people who visited for two weeks at a time, to help build a school in Rukungiri in the south west of the country.

It was during this time the couple saw a need to make a difference to the way children are taught.

After a quick trip back to the UK to sort everything out, they moved back to live in Uganda in 2008 where they worked with a local vocational centre.

Then in August 2010 the couple moved to the capital, Kampala, where Lyn got a job at Taibah Primary School working in a department that had just two classes, four staff and 12 children. Today they have four classes, about 70 children and eight teachers.

Married mum-of-two Charley, of Chatsworth Drive, Sittingbourne, said: "I put my mum’s name forward in the competition because I think she is amazing the way she manages to juggle being a grandmother to her grandchildren in this country as well as helping underprivileged children in Uganda.

"I phoned her as soon as I found out and she was very excited. She said she feels very honoured."

Grannies from all over the country can be nominated by family and friends each month for the award.

Winners are then put forward for the chance to win the title Granny of the Year in April 2013.

The overall winner will win a break at Knoll House in Dorset.

To nominate a granny, fill out a form at www.grannynet.co.uk/granny-of-the-year-award and send a photo of her to beourqueen@grannnet.co.uk