YOUNGSTERS at a primary school in Ethiopia were thrilled to receive filled pencil cases on behalf of Year 7 pupils at Royal Wootton Bassett Academy.

Two teachers from the school,international co-ordinator Emma Stevens and Peter Burtwell, were in the country to explore a new charity project.

The school has been linked with Stand by Me for the past three years and raised £15,000 to build part of a school in Burma.

Its new project is to raise £28,000 over the next few years, to build a children’s home for orphans in Dembi Dollo.

Stand by Me opened Abdi Academy in Dembi Dollo in 2014, and there are now 260 pupils, who all have some level of need or vulnerability, most of whom sponsored by British people through the charity.

Despite the lack of resources, nine teachers provide a very good level of education. All the children receive two meals a day, cooked on traditional wooden fires. The national dish is injera, a pancake-style meal served with sauce and occasionally meat.

Miss Stevens said: "£20 a month pays for their uniform, education and two meals a day. There are still 86 children awaiting sponsorship."

The visitors were impressed by the friendliness of the children, who smiled a lot, and were very keen to meet them.

For more information about sponsoring a child see www.standby.me