PUPILS at a school in Yate have the mammoth task of raising £30,000 to fund a trip that will benefit Ugandan school children.  

Teachers at Brimsham Green School have chosen 14 pupils from years 11 and 12 for its biannual mission to East Africa following a careful selection process.

In July next year, the teenagers will travel over 8,000km to the Hosanna Primary School in Kampala, where they will teach 60 Ugandan youngsters for a week before joining them on a four-day safari.

17-year-old Lewis Mitchell said that he was “ecstatic” to have been chosen for the once in a lifetime trip, which is intended to expose pupils to a different society and build strong ties with the Ugandan school.

Lewis said: “I’ve wanted to go since 2011, when I saw other pupils in the school fundraising for their own trip.

“I’m really excited to learn about a new culture and to do something different.

“I think that it will be quite eye opening.”

The trip will be the fifth time that the school has visited the slum of Kisenyi, the biggest shanty town in Kampala, and home to Hosanna School.

Previous trips by the school have helped fund much-needed classrooms at Hosanna Primary and have provided educational activities and adventures for its pupils.

Jo Hewitt, a teacher at Brimsham Green, explained that the pupils are raising £30,000 to fund the trip, which will be used for accommodation costs, flights and resources for Hosanna Primary School.

She said: “We are encouraging the pupils to organise fundraising themselves.

“It’s a big challenge but they will develop a multitude of skills from the process, including independence, organisation and dedication.”

So far, the pupils have organised several events, including a cake decorating workshop, a cycling challenge and tuck shop days at school.

Pupil Sumiya Milta, 16, has also raised £160 by hosting a dinner party at her house.

She said: “My mum and I hosted a three course meal for family friends, which they all paid for and enjoyed.

“It was a fun way to fundraise.”

The public are invited to come along to events that will raise money for the trip.

A quiz night is set to take place on Thursday, March 30 at Brimsham Green School between 7pm and 8.30pm. Admission will cost £5 and tickets can be brought on the door.

A cake decorating workshop will be held at Brimsham Green School on Thursday, May 4 starting at 7pm. Tickets will cost £20, with £8 being put towards Hosanna fundraising.

Anyone wishing to make a donation towards the trip can contact Jo Hewitt at jhewitt@brimsham.com.