IT HAS taken tens of thousands of pounds, countless fundraisers and 97 students to help construct a school in an Aids-ravaged town in Uganda, but after nearly 10 years, work is almost complete.

Staff and students from Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School (QEGS) in Blackburn are now hoping to raise a final £3,000 to help finish their work at the Good Samaritan Primary School in Kampala, by holding a Uganda Ball this summer.

Since 2009 sixth-formers have been working hard to raise cash before travelling halfway across the world to do their bit to build the school, which has helped educate hundreds of young Ugandan children, offering them a better chance at life and a more stable future.

The school became involved in the project after Dr Paul White, the father of a former student, contacted staff to see if they wanted to help him with a project. Ever since, students have visited the African country to build new classrooms, dormitories, toilets, fresh water pumps and teacher accommodation.

And while their work is coming to an end, they still have a big mountain to climb before they can sign off for good – and that’s raising over £3,000.

A school spokesman said: “We became involved when Dr Paul Wright approached teacher Andy Buckingham to see if he wanted help in a new community project that he had been asked to work on.

“It was to build a primary school for the orphaned children in the Wakiso District of Kampala. They were children affected by the ravages of HIV and Aids.

“When the school first got involved, around 100 five to eleven-year olds attended ramshackle buildings which made up the village’s schools, but today, their facilities are much like any other primary school found in the region – if anything, better.”

There are now 250 children attending the school, many of who are leaving with good results in their national examinations.

But now, sixth-form students are looking to raise the funds for their trip this year – which could be their last ever visit.

The school spokesman said: “This is likely to be the last trip to this project, but QEGS may look to run another to a different project in the future but it will need leadership and Mr Buckingham is retiring this academic year.

“In fact, this trip will be the last thing he does as a teacher who has been at the school for 30 years.”

The Uganda Ball will take place at Pleasington Golf Club on May 11. Tickets are prices at £30. To find out more, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ugandaball