SIXTH form students at Pershore High School are raising funds to bring their partners in Zambia to the country.

The students who visited Ndola, Zambia on an exchange programme in July, would like to take their Zambian friends on a trip to the beach and to visit London, which will be a "once in a lifetime opportunity" for them says Sixth former Abby Wiggins, aged 18.

"It’s important our friends get to visit us here in the UK because we got to experience their culture and way of life so it’ll be nice for them to experience the same with us."

During their visit last year, eight students worked mainly in schools, running workshops. They provided some of the poorer schools with school supplies such as books pens and sporting equipment.

Isabella Taylor, 17, said "We stayed with our partners family for one night and had a meal with them to understand the way they live."

They visited The Victoria Falls and went to Botswana with their partners for a safari where they saw giraffes and elephants and a water safari where they saw elephants mud bathing, giraffes at the water hole and hippos. They also went to markets and saw traditional tribes.

Pershore student Callum Andrews, 18, said : "This is a life changing opportunity for everyone involved. These students will not have experienced the things we take for granted such as seeing green grass, paddling in the sea and the vast choice in our supermarkets."

"This eye-opening experience shows how two years of fund-raising can change the world for a community and individuals. We can’t help everyone but everyone can help someone and Ndola is a better place thanks to the link that exists with us."

The students have organised car washes, quiz nights, Christmas raffles, and are organising a man vs food event to raise money for their partners trip to the UK.