A successful district grant bid last May will see a team of local Rotary members and supporters travelling to Uganda on Friday to place a commemorative plaque on the walls of a newly extended and re-roofed primary school just outside Kampala.

The grant - match funded with various fundraising events held by Ormskirk Clocktower Rotarians and members of the Pearl of Africa Child Care charity - has raised the £3000 needed for a two metre extension to classrooms, in order for the school to be recognised as a centre where final examinations can take place.

The old roof, which leaked, and its wooden supports, which had been eaten by termites, have also been raised and replaced.

The team travelling to Uganda have links to the Molly and Paul Child Care Foundation - a non government Ugandan charity set up to provide homes, education and medical attention to over 2000 orphaned, homeless or destitute children living in and around Kampala.

The UK based charity, Pearl of Africa Child Care, which helps to run this Ugandan foundation, also organise the annual UK tour by the Pearl of Africa Children's Choir - well known in the Ormskirk area for their wonderful African singing, dancing and drumming performances.

And the team Rotary team, headed by Liz Tonge, won't be travelling empty handed!

They have received enough donations of clothes, toys, educational equipment and medical supplies from the local area to fill 20 large suitcases. These will be distributed to the schools, orphanages and clinics belonging to the foundation. There have also been generous donations of cash which the team hope to use to complete projects in the area.

President of Ormskirk Clocktower Rotary, Sue Wilson, is both 'thrilled and proud' that members of the club have undertaken this sort of challenge.