Earlier this year Chelsea donated £50,000 to our gobal charity partner Right to Play's programmes in Uganda and East and South Africa (EASA), impacting on the lives of thousands of children who face poverty, war and disease everyday.

These children have been given access to programming that will dramatically enhance their health and well-being, meaning Chelsea and Right to Play (RTP) have given hope and opportunities to orphans and refugees, setting them up for the future.

Ravaged by war for over two decades, thousands have been killed and around two million made homeless in Uganda and over 30 per cent of the country lives on less than $1 a day.

On top of this, there's an estimated 940,000 people living with HIV and 1.2 million children have been orphaned by Aids. It is these children who face the toughest challenges.

Basic resources needed to support their development into adulthood are lacking. Few are able to go to school and therefore struggle to gain the life skills needed to make a positive contribution to their community.

It is in these environments that RTP and Chelsea have made an impact. Thanks to their funding from the club, RTP have been able to introduce programmes focusing on conflict resolution, HIV/Aids prevention, gender inclusion and early child development.

RTP's Live Safe Play Safe resource helps build awareness of HIV/Aids and teaches children how to reduce infection in the long term. With six per cent of the population currently suffering from Aids, helping those at risk is crucial to stopping its spread.

Over 7,000 children participated in a conflict and disease programme in Kyaka II Refugee Camp last year. Due to Chelsea's support in 2009, RTP will now be able to significantly increase that number and mobilise more children, teachers and leaders than ever before.

And that's not all the club have been involved with. 'Games sponsored by Chelsea FC are a great tool in restoring peace and tranquillity among the boys and girls,' said RTP country manager Peter Etabu.

'I would like to say thank you to Chelsea FC for giving children in Uganda and EASA the chance to form strong bonds of inclusion and co-operation as they play and learn together in peace.'

RTP doesn't just work in Uganda; the charity is an athlete-driven international humanitarian organisation that uses sport and play as a tool for development of children and youth in the most disadvantaged areas of the world.

Since announcing RTP as our global charity partner in 2005, Chelsea have been involved heavily in raising vital funds and awareness for many of the charity's initiatives.

This summer the club took part in the star-studded Celebrity Sports Day event, while our work has also seen us out in Ghana and the Middle East, where we attracted top level support from Rt Hon Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister.

At the time Blair said: 'I congratulate the club for their really imaginative work in helping to break down barriers and engaging with young people across communities.'

Click here to read a recent, specially produced newsletter from RTP which chronicles our achievements throughout 2009.