Schoolchildren on aid mission overseas

Youngsters from two secondary schools in south Staffordshire have flown to South Africa to help charities out there.

Pupils have spent months fundraising to pay for the aid mission, including holding a sponsored stay awake, packing bags at local stores, music nights, a community fair, quizzes and a curry night.

The school team set off from Great Wyrley last Thursday and will be returning home on July 27. The party of 18 includes nine students from Great Wyrley Performing Arts High School and Cheslyn Hay Sport and Community High School, who will be led by nine adults.

The aid mission is part of the Link 4 Life Project, which was launched in 2010 by local churches in Cheslyn Hay and Great Wyrley to bring together schools, churches and the wider community to support the work of three Christian charities in southern Africa. They are Hands @ Work in Africa, which works with those affected by HIV/AIDS; Mercy Air, which flies people, goods and materials throughout southern Africa, and the Baby Bear Project, which works to support St Mary's Maternity Hospital in Durban.

A second team, comprising of adults from churches and the communities in Rugeley and Great Wyrley will fly out on August 2, returning on August 17.

A spokeswoman said:?"The project aims to help young people in our community to broaden their horizons."