PUPILS from Ridgewood High School in Wollaston pulled out all the stops during an Easter visit to Gambia.

The trip was organised as part of the school's ongoing Project Gambia campaign and fell just weeks after the News launched its Well of Life appeal to raise £10,000 to supply a water pump and irrigation system for the drought stricken village of Sintet.

A party of 69 pupils, staff and volunteers made the trip and assistant head Bev Hodt praised everyone's contribution.

The party took a plentiful amount of medical supplies, clothes and shoes with the them. They also restocked and refurbished the medical centre, while working on the school building as well.

Bev Hodt said: "We did lots of good things while we were out there. We painted the classrooms and drew the alphabet and times tables on the walls. Because they have few books, the teachers use them as teaching aids. We also made chalkboards for the nursery classrooms.

"Rather than give the people hand-outs, we are trying to make them as self sufficient as possible, so were are looking at setting-up a market garden.

"Many of the children cannot afford to go to school, so by setting up the market garden the women can earn money to send their children to school.

"We also bought a market stall for a friend of ours at nearby Serrekunda. She sells all types of things on her stall, some of which we have donated.

"She has 17 people living in her house, all of whom rely on her."

"We've also donated 300 mosquito nets.

"It's hoped some of the medical supplies we've also donated will provide some of the youngsters with free medical care as there are children there dying from disease from which they don't need to die from."

Donations to the Well of Life appeal have now topped £2,500 but there's still a long way to go.

Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so online at www.justgiving.com/welloflifeappeal/ or text PROG15 and your amount, either £10, £5, £4, £3, £2, £1, to 70070.

People can also donate cash or cheques in person at the Stourbridge News offices, at St John’s House, St John’s Road, Stourbridge.

Cheques need to be made payable to Project Gambia Trust Ridgewood, and you’ll need to write Well off Life appeal on the back.