Ref. 75963-46A VILLAGE in Africa has fresh water thanks to the children of Swindon's Hreod Parkway School.

The youngsters raised £2,000 for a well to be built in the Ugandan village of Gavu. There had been no clean water there before.

The money was raised for the Busoga Trust, a Christian Charity working in Uganda.

Hreod headteacher Andrew Fleet said: "The entire community of Gavu is so happy that they have a protected source of fresh water and it has significantly reduced death and disease in the village.

"It took about eight months for the children to raise the money and they did it in a range of ways by doing sponsored events, holding bring and buy sales and making and selling food.

"I'm very proud of what they have achieved.

"Before the well was built the villagers would often drink from the same stream that the animals also drank from so there was a high risk of them catching diseases."

The villagers of Gavu are delighted with the well and the local bishop has written to the school.

Now the pupils have decided to raise even more money so they can build a second well.

Mr Fleet believes that making his pupils aware of conditions in third world countries is an important part of their education.

"It's very important that youngsters understand the international world especially at this time when there is the G8 conference and discussions about third world debt," he said. "Part of the role of the school is to raise youngsters' awareness beyond just thinking about Swindon."

Diana Milne