TWO teachers at a Kidderminster college are raising money for a trust that supports a school in Nepal.

Laura Lane and Pauline Lowe, both teachers at Baxter College on the Habberley Road, were inspired to host some fundraising activities at the college after being inspired by a trip to Nepal, through the Nagajuna Trust.

They have chosen to raise a mile of pennies, which is over 80,000, at the college which they will lay out at the college during an activities week in July to raise awareness and money for the cause.

Laura said: “We completed an application process to go over and help in Nepal, and we were selected to go. We went out to teach the teachers how to teach in a more interactive and practical way – as they are used to very old school learning.

“The school is for orphans and children in need and the headmaster, Yeshi, has managed to purchase a concrete building in the foothills of the Himalayas in which pupils live and are taught. Yeshi walks for 20 days each year over the Himalayas to rescue orphans from remote villages.

“The school is very poor and we are trying to raise some money for heaters and a boiler for the school so that the children don’t have to wash their clothes in the local river.

“We both loved the experience, it was life changing. The pupils have so little and yet so delightfully happy with everything they have. It was really humbling and we really felt like we made a difference and so therefore want to continue to do so.”

The teachers have been encouraging pupils to bring in their loose change to create the mile of pennies and welcome donations from outside sources.

She added: “We have chosen the mile of pennies because a little can amount to a lot and as we wanted to get our pupils involved, we didn’t want to make them feel like they have to bring in lots of money – and it is working already – the pupils have been excellent and have been bringing in all of their loose change.

“It will also look very impressive when we lay it out in July.”

Rebecca Seddon, chair of the Nagajuna Trust, said: “We became a registered charity about ten years ago and people have been really generous ever since. It has gone from teaching about ten children in Nepal, to a purpose built school with over 20 children.

“As for what Laura and Baxter College are doing, it’s one of those tiny steps. A penny nobody thinks about, but 80,000 of them go along way and can help the school.

“Everybody has a penny in their pocket. It’s something little, but it can make a difference.

“It basically can support the whole school for two months. It can go a long way.”

For more information about the Nagajuna Trust, visit http://www.thenagajunatrust.org.