YOUNGSTERS from Penarth have raised £8,500 to help improve conditions for a group of African schools and an orphanage.

The youth branch of the Penarth and District Lesotho Trust, led by Olivia Dwyer, travelled to Lesotho earlier this month.

They took money they had raised over the past two years in support of TY Junior Academy, St Matthias Primary School, Rantuba High School and St Cecilia's Orphanage.

At the orphanage, the group saw the poor living conditions of the children.

The head of the orphanage, Father Augustine, blessed the volunteers for their contribution which he said would alleviate many of the problems facing the school.

Rantuba High School also needed funding because it had no electricity and most pupils had to walk for miles to attend.

Strong bonds were formed between the young people of Penarth and the children of Lesotho during lessons.

At TY Junior Academy, the members of the PADLT youth branch helped improve the building conditions which had been causing health problems for children and they also installed a new kitchen.

A spokesman for PADLT said: "The trip to Lesotho was an unforgettable one for the young people and was made more rewarding in the knowledge that contributions will greatly enhance the conditions of the schools.

"The efforts of the past two years could not have been achieved without the people of Penarth and the invaluable support of the community.

"The warmth of the Lesotho community and the spirit of the people is something that the group will take with them."

The principal of TY Junior Academy has written a letter of thanks to the people of Penarth for the money raised and hoping that the link between the two communities will continue.

The next group will head out to Lesotho in 2018.