A school near Bury St Edmunds is helping to raise funds to support education in Tanzania through a non-uniform day.

East Anglian Daily Times: Zachary Burford, six, and his sister Zoe, eight, in Tanzania. Picture CULFORD SCHOOLZachary Burford, six, and his sister Zoe, eight, in Tanzania. Picture CULFORD SCHOOL (Image: Archant)

After two pupils from Culford School spent their Christmas in the east African country, the pre-prep and nursery is fundraising to help the Burford family raise £10,000.

Zachary Burford, six, and his sister Zoe, eight, spent six months in Tanzeneer nearly five years ago.

Upon the families departure in 2014, they decided to help with the poor standards of education they had experienced by establishing a not-for-profit organization, TANZEED (Tanzanian Empowerment through Education) with the main goal of building a school.

Four years on, the Maasai community now have the beginnings of their school thanks to the organisation with two classrooms, blackboards, desks, chairs and toilets. There are now four dedicated local volunteer teachers and the children receive a porridge breakfast.

Karen Burford, mother of Zac and Zoe, was overwhelmed upon the families return at Christmas.

She said: “We were only expecting to see the site but were overwhelmed when the entire Maasai community, surprised us with a welcome of singing, dancing and their famous jumping. Even the children came to school in their uniforms, despite it being their Christmas holidays.

“The community are very proud of their school. The two classrooms, intended for the youngest children who have most difficulty managing the long walk, are now overflowing with 104 students, with some of them being taught under the trees.”

The family aim to continue their fundraising and are hoping to raise an additional £10,000 to build two additional classrooms and a kitchen by the end of this year.

For more information about the project, visit www.tanzeed.org or email Karen or Adam Burford at info@tanzeed.org