A school has raised enough money through non-uniform days to sink a well in an impoverished community in India.
North Primary, in Southall, is sponsoring a charity called Compassionate Service Society of India (CSSI) for a year.
A local couple helped set up the charity 16 years ago after they saw the poverty on a holiday to India.
Pastor Michael, 88, and Joan Heard, 78, from Ealing, managed to raise over £30,000 a year of which every penny goes to help the poor and slum dwellers.
The couple now visit yearly to check on the school buildings and to see over 30 water wells the money they have raised has helped sink.
Their son, David Heard, who is a teacher at the school, said: “The fantastic fundraising from the school has enabled a well to be built in a poor village where the villagers previously had to walk a great distance to the nearest water source.
“We have raised more than £600 so far but this will increase during the course of the year. This is enough to pay for the sinking of a well which will never dry up. We have yet to have a plaque fixed to the well but this will be done shortly.”
Headteacher Mr Johnstone added: “As a school we are delighted to be sponsoring CSSI because it makes a real difference to the health and education of families in India.”
School council representative Lovepreet Bains and Aisnavy Kugasenen-Chettiar said: “Our donations to CSSI are life-changing for the poor in India.”
