A SCHOOL in Africa has been renamed The Doddington Joy Junior School – as a mark of thanks for financial support from Fenland couple Lynn Morgan and Paul Ponder. Lynn and Paul, from Doddington, created the new school after its old buildings were destroyed

A SCHOOL in Africa has been renamed The Doddington Joy Junior School - as a mark of thanks for financial support from Fenland couple Lynn Morgan and Paul Ponder.

Lynn and Paul, from Doddington, created the new school after its old buildings were destroyed during an uprising - and they need �1,000 a year to run it.

Lynn said: "This all started when we went to Africa for a holiday 15 years ago.

"We saw how poor the children were, and we began taking football kits out with us.

"Now we also take uniforms to the school, anything we can beg or borrow.

"We also fund cash to provide desks, tables and text books through a variety of fund raising efforts."

Before Christmas, Lynn and Paul launched a fund raising scheme to pay their two members of staff �20 a month each, asking supporters to make an annual donation.

"We raised almost all the �480 we needed, local businesses supported us very well," she said.

"In early December we took Christmas presents out to the children. The children had not had presents before, it was heartbreaking."

The new one- room school in Shanzy is 18 km from Mombasa.

"They now have a school with water and flush toilets rather than a hole in the ground," said Lynn. "It is safer for the children. We would love to extend into adjoining rooms, but would need more money.

"When the original school fell to pieces we stepped in and took over, and we would be thrilled to hear from anyone who could help us raise money, or donate football kits, or clothing."

• Burrowmoor Primary School in March is a great supporter of the school, and has donated unwanted uniforms.

Lynn added: "We could not do all this without the fantastic support we receive. Special thanks should go to Iris Lilley, the school lollipop lady, and Doreen Costall and staff at the Post Office."

The room rented for the school costs about �5 a month to rent and Lynn and John could rent two more adjoining rooms for an extra �25.

• Anyone else wanting to support the project is asked to contact Lynn and Paul by ringing 01354 740902 or 07879 618952.

FACTFILE

• The children's ages at the school range from four to 11.

• The school currently caters for 36 children.

• Ten of the children at the school are orphans and live in extended families locally.

• The original school was destroyed to a pile of rubble in the political uprisings.

• Following this, the school then had a room in a thatched building - but it did not have toilets and the rain came in through the open part of the roof.