STUDENTS, staff and parents at Ellesmere College are hoping to raise £18,000 to help youngsters in Tanzania receive a better education.

They are hoping to continue their ongoing support of the Monduli Green Project, which was set up in 2008 by Cathy Allen, an English as an Additional Language teacher at the college.

Money raised will go towards providing four 30,000 litre water tanks and the refurbishment of four classrooms at a school called Nanja in the country.

"The project works with schools and communities in Tanzania to improve the environment and facilities for children," said Ms Allen.

"We want to build water tanks because this boarding school for 450 pupils has absolutely no water at all.

"The students and staff collect their water from a livestock pond 10 minutes down the road."

Students visit the project in Tanzania every other year to offer help to the less-fortunate youngsters and a total of 55 individual pupils are sponsored by Ellesmere College as part of its continued supported.

The water tanks cost £3,130 a piece and each classroom will cost £1,342 to refurbish.

Fundraising the substantial amount has been kickstarted with a recent non-uniform day which saw more than £900 raised.

The college has every bit of confidence in raising the sum of money.

Ms Allen would like to thank everyone who donated towards the non-uniform day and welcomes ideas of other ways to raise money for the project which the college has a long history of supporting.

"It is a lot of money and we've set ourselves a target, but I am sure we can do it."

"There are many children in Tanzania who don’t get to go to school or fail to finish their education

"With just under 70 per cent of the population living below the poverty line, many children are forced into a situation of trying to find work to help their families rather than go to school.”

For more information about the Monduli Green Project visit www.ellesmere.com and search Monduli.