A STOURBRIDGE family will be handing out donations and gifts to street children in India during an upcoming visit.

The Batta family, of Goldfinch Road, Pedmore, will be heading out to Delhi this weekend and while they are there will hand over money and gifts they have collected.

Pam Batta first got the idea to fundraise when speaking to her children Shaam, an Old Swinford Hospital pupil, and Nayan and about what they were going to see on their visit.

Students at the Knoll School in Kidderminster, where Nayan attends, have been collecting funds and creating loom bands and heart messages to send to Delhi.

Pam said: “I was explaining to them that it will be a bit of a culture shock for them, bringing them to terms with the poverty they are to see while we are there.

“Then I had an idea, we should start fundraising to raise money to take with us to India to buy some food while we are there to give to the street children.

“I approached the head teacher of my son’s school, who loved the idea. I’ve also had a lot of feedback from parents who think it is a fantastic project to give money to.

“So far the school have raised £400. The children have just got really involved and want to raise even more money for the children in India.

“Some of my neighbours and also my family have donated more money as well.”

The family have been told that one meal for a street child in Delhi will cost around 30 rupees.

Pam Said: “£400 is just over 40,000 rupees. So we are going to feed as many as we can and then donate bags of rice to keep them going.

“It’s just lovely how the children at the school have raised this money. It’s such a small school; about 100 children go there, so to raise this much money is brilliant.”

The children have also made more than 150 loom bands and have created little hearts which they have decorated with messages to send.

She added: “I just think it’s a really nice idea and I did not expect so many people to get involved.

“I call it ‘make a bracelet, bring a smile, raise some money, to feed a child’.

“It’s so important for young children to see where their money is going and to see their bracelets and hearts they have made with the children in India.”

The family will be keeping pupils of the Knoll updated throughout their trip by posting photos on its facebook page.

Nigel Humphreys, headteacher at the Knoll School, said: “The children, staff and parents of the Knoll School were delighted to support Nayan and his family in helping the homeless and street children in Delhi, India.

“We are already looking forward to receiving the photos and wish the Batta family well on their exciting and worthy venture.”