A KENYAN headteacher has spoken movingly of the link forged between Budmouth Technology College and her school - which is changing the lives of African youngsters.

Nancy Nkonge, who is in charge of Katharaka School near the foothills of Mount Kenya, is in Dorset for two weeks and she visited the Weymouth college to celebrate the close ties between them, established during outdoor education trips to Kenya from Budmouth during the last five years.

Since then students, staff, parents and friends of Budmouth have become involved in the link as part of the college's Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme which has helped raise funds for the school and kick-start a major rebuilding project for the community of South Meru, where the school is based.

Nancy said: "Ever since the groups from Budmouth have been coming to Kenya they have brought us gifts which have made such a difference to us.

"They have given us so much - from pencils and paper to sports kit and equipment.

"Before they came our children did not have even the most basic equipment.

"Budmouth has helped our children very much indeed and we love them. In Kenya many children can't come to school because their parents are so poor. But the gifts we have received from Budmouth are helping us to change the lives of our students."

Josie Hastings, a PE teacher at Budmouth, said: "The link between us started when we had a group of students in Kenya for an outdoor education trip. We happened to walk past the school and all these children came rushing out to greet us. From there on in we kept in contact and the link was formed."

Josie and her husband Martin and Angela White, a teacher from St John's Primary School in Weymouth and her husband, Richard have formed the core of the Weymouth side of the link. Nancy is also visiting St John's during her stay in Dorset.

A group of youngsters from Budmouth is set to travel to Kenya later this year.