CONSERVATION-conscious youngsters are enjoying a two-week trip of a lifetime to East Africa to see at first hand how their fund raising has benefited animals and humans.

The teenagers, attached to Bury CE High School-based Children of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, are currently in Kenya to see the projects they have worked to support over the last ten years.

During the last decade, the youngsters have raised thousands of pounds to fund projects for orphaned animals at Kenya's Tsavo wildlife parks. They funded the purchase of a lorry and the sinking of a borehole in the water-starved Tsavo East Park. And the pupils also paid for two windmills up and running at Kenya's Ndara Plain and Aruba Dam.

During their African trip, the nine youngsters will be meeting Kenyan schoolchildren attached to the Vol Education Centre and Ore Primary School.

Jack Murphy (13), is one of the principal members of the group. Speaking before he and fellow pupils flew out to Africa, he said: "We have fundraised to get money together to buy lots of books, stationery and sports equipment for use in the schools. We're even taking a set of goal posts as currently all there is at the primary school are four sticks in the ground."

Fellow pupil Rebecca Grundy (13), added: "Our school recently held a non-uniform day and cake sale where we raised a fantastic £780, which we will use to buy some desks, connect the school to the local water supply, provide some lockers for the teachers, storage for the books and a host of other things. We can't wait to see the children's faces when we unpack it all."

The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is run by renowned conservationist Dr Daphne Sheldrick, who cares for orphaned elephants and rhinos. She will be meeting the Bury CE High School children during their trip.

Also travelling with the teenagers is teacher and trust co-ordinator Jackie Vet.