Twenty-three West Hatch High School students and four members of staff have returned from a month-long trip volunteering in Kenya and Tanzania.

​PE teacher Lizzie Edwards said: “It was an amazing experience and one which will never be forgotten.

"The students got to experience life in Africa and it really shed a light on how they live and what exceptional people they really are.”​

​The first part of the trip saw the students take part in community project work and helping at primary schools to try and improve the classrooms, buildings and desks to eventually improve the children’s education.

Ms Edwards said: “The pupils worked extremely hard and really dug deep to get the jobs done to the best of their ability, which was fantastic.

“Even the trip leaders in Kenya commented on how hard our group worked and that they had never seen a more upbeat, hard-working group of young people who give 100 per cent commitment to the job.

”The West Hatch students spent time with the children around the primary schools and project work and thrived off learning Swahili and singing songs with the children."

The trip included going on safari at Tsavo East National Park when they saw many wild animals – including elephants, cheetahs, giraffe, buffalo and lion.

The final part of the trip was a gruelling mountain trek of Mount Meru.

Everyone managed to reach the summit after a difficult two days, with the party arriving at the top just in time for the amazing sunrise over Mount Kilimanjaro.

Ms Edwards added: “Every student should be extremely proud of themselves in the knowledge that they conquered Mount Meru, one of the highest mountains in Africa and most difficult to climb.

“Overall the students were a joy to be with and represented the school with pride. It really was a trip of a lifetime!”