Pupils on the case for pencils (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Pupils on the case for pencils

CHILDREN at Great Bedwyn School have launched their own unique campaign called pencil case post to help their peers in a less fortunate part of the world.

The school was visited last November by Gibril Jallow, headteacher of Gunjur Lower Basic School in The Gambia in West Africa.

Mr Jallow was visiting the Marlborough area as a guest of the Brandt Group and part of its exchange system between the African and Wiltshire communities for teachers and students.

Mr Jallow's visit and talk about his experiences in the Gunjur school inspired the Bedwyn children to launch their pencil post campaign, believed to be the only one of its kind in the county if not the country.

So far the Great Bedwyn children have collected 120 pencil cases. Each case has been filled with much needed resources for the Gunjur children including pens, pencils, rubbers, rulers and pencil sharpeners.

As part of their studies in global citizenship the children designed campaign leaflets that were sent home to every family and a campaign logo, Pencil Pete.

A spokeswoman at the school said: "The children are delighted with the enthusiastic response to their initiative and are now planning to contact other local schools visited by Mr Jallow to find out whether they would like to take part in pencil case post."

The filled pencil cases will be transported to The Gambia through the good auspices of the Marlborough Brandt Group.