A KIND-hearted Dunbar couple have inspired a company to donate £1,000 to help educate Indian children.

Eddie and Yvonne Carver have been going to Goa for a number of years on holiday.

Friends told them about Mango Tree Goa, a charity which helps provide educational support to Indian children aged from three to 16.

Eddie, of Wingate Crescent, is a site manager at Ground Developments Ltd, based near Livingston, and the company has agreed to make a four-figure donation.

Eddie said: “My wife and I try to undertake charity work wherever we go on holiday and we’ve helped a variety of different projects in places like Jamaica, Barbados and the Dominican Republic.

“We heard about Mango Tree Goa through friends who had visited the charity’s Mango House project whilst they were on holiday in Goa a few years ago.

“When they told us about the daily challenges facing disadvantaged children in Goa and how they have little or no access to education and the amazing support the Mango House project provides every single day, my wife Yvonne and I felt compelled to get involved.” Last year, the couple ventured out to Goa with more than 100 pairs of jelly shoes because most of the children had no footwear.

Ahead of the trip, Yvonne even searched on eBay to find more shoes to take across.

“This year we have been fundraising in our home town of Dunbar to raise the vital funds the Mango House project needs to provide teachers, educational supplies and a nutritious meal for the 175 children that benefit from the project every day,” said Eddie.

“When the rest of the team at GDL heard how we were getting involved, they said they’d like to make a donation too, so I was overwhelmed when they made such a generous offer of £1,000 to support this project that’s so very close to my heart.” Ground Developments’ donation will be used towards the general running costs of the Mango House project, and the team has also secured a selection of educational supplies, including pencils, rulers and rubbers, from other suppliers.

These will be distributed by Eddie and Yvonne on their next trip to Goa at the end of this year.

Jane Grimshaw is one of three trustees of Mango Tree Goa and said the donation meant “a great deal”.

She said: “Their donations will make such a difference to the children that we aim to help in Goa.

“There is little or no access to education for disadvantaged children from the slums of Goa.

“So we promote the benefits of having an education, and we provide the support and preparation that children from pre-nursery to age six need before they can be enrolled in school, as well as extra tuition and a healthy meal.

“Once the children learn the life skills to be able to cope in an educational environment, we enrol them with a local school, and our commitment continues through the provision of school uniform, school bags, extra tuition, as well as a healthy meal.” Kevin McKenzie, commercial director for Ground Developments, said he felt inspired after hearing about Yvonne and Eddie’s efforts.

He said: “This project makes a real difference to over 175 children, and we know that our donation will be put to great use to provide a better start in their lives.”