Shot kills the dream of aid worker Darren Stratti

AN AUSTRALIAN who followed his dream to build a village for African orphans to be fed and educated has been shot dead by robbers.

Darren Stratti, 36, a father of two teenage boys and a passionate musician, was just months away from finishing the village in remote northern Tanzania with his partner Rebecka Delforce.

The couple had given up the idea of settling down in Australia with a mortgage and instead raised funds for their not-for-profit organisation, foodwatershelter Inc.

Darren Stratti, 36, who had professed to having a "strange attraction to uncomfortable situations" had been working in the town of Arusha in northern Tanzania for 18 months with the Australian non-profit organisation known as foodwatershelter.

He was killed on Monday during a robbery, the organisation said in a statement. "Darren gave his life bravely to protect those around him," a spokeswoman said. His brother, Jason, said last night Mr Stratti was "an exceptional person". He had been successful as an independent musician in Sydney, playing with drummer Danny Heifetz from the international indie act Mr Bungle.