STUDENTS from Preston Lodge High School helped make 1,400 bricks for a school during a visit to Malawi over the summer holidays.

The group of nine pupils were accompanied by staff members Dylan Bell and Anne Cormack on the three-week trip to Africa.

During their time in the country, they visited The Ministry of Hope, a crisis nursery for orphans, handed over a donation to the workers there and spent time at an all-girls’ school where they made the mud bricks to help the school build a wall around its grounds.

Despite a rocky start to the trip, when the team’s luggage was delayed, it soon became the opportunity of a lifetime for the youngsters.

Team members Brad Scott and Sam McDonald reported: “Many friendships were made during the stay at the school, and there are still connections being made with the pupils. The group also completed a four-day trek, camping on beautiful hilltops, which in the UK would be considered mountains. One day on the trek the group camped in a village and gave away toys and food to the locals to support their children.

“During the trip, the group also had the chance to camp for two nights in one of Malawi’s national parks, Liwonde. During the nights we were among monkeys, birds and hippos. The group also went on a kayak over Lake Malawi to a small island where we enjoyed fresh, barbecued catfish for the first time.”

Gavin Clark, headteacher at Preston Lodge, said: “Well done to our nine intrepid explorers, who made a real difference to the lives of Malawian children during their visit and who did our school and its wider community proud.”