Year 9 girls at Pipers Corner received surprise letters today – from Africa! The letters, from pupils at St Mark's Memorial Primary and Orphanage School in Uganda, were sent in reply to ones the girls had written as part of a Geography project earlier in the school year.

Brought in by Sophie Wynter from the charity "An African Dream", the letters were full of stories of the daily life of the children in Uganda. Some talked about their 6km walk to school, whilst others drew pictures of the hens and goats they keep at home. Head of Geography, Melanie Collins, said "It's fantastic that the girls have been able to make contact with the children in Uganda. Swapping stories of the everyday things they do will really help the girls to appreciate the contrast between their very different lifestyles and will be a great insight into another culture."

In return the girls were delighted to present Mrs Wynter with a cheque for £103, raised from a recent mufti day at Pipers Corner. Mrs Wynter told the girls that the money would go towards the completion of a kitchen at St Mark's - currently the children have to walk half a mile to get food!

As well as continuing to write to their new African friends, one of the houses at Pipers – Mandeville – has adopted "An African Dream" as their charity. They are hoping to raise lots more money over the coming months to help St Mark's get other things they desperately need such as desks, textbooks and pencils.

**ENDS**

For more information contact:
Fran Knight, Marketing and Communications Manager, Pipers Corner School. Telephone 01494 719 850 or email fknight@piperscorner.co.uk

Photo shows:
Cheque presentation to Sophie Wynter from Melanie Collins and two Year 9 girls.