PUPILS at a Wythenshawe school shunned their usual half-term activities to help vulnerable children overseas.

The party from St Paul’s Catholic High School, on Firbank Road, made the trip to the Pattaya Orphanage in Thailand, which cares for 180 children.

The teenagers funded their trip, part of their GCSE citizenship work, by washing cars, collecting old phones and packing shopping bags to reach their £12,000 total – £3,000 of which was donated to the orphanage.

Ursula Gallagher, head of personal, health and social education at the school, said: "This is such a worthwhile cause. Pattaya Orphanage does a great job helping vulnerable and disadvantaged children in Thailand.

"It also cares for tsunami survivors and abandoned, disabled and street children."

The visitors quickly made friends as they helped the orphans with their literacy, numeracy and sporting skills, said Mrs Gallagher.

"I was amazed by the power of football," she said.

"Once a ball was produced, the youngsters quickly formed teams and off they went.

"The union of these children with such vast differences brought about kindness and equality that was a privilege to observe."

She added: "To provide this caring environment costs a substantial amount of money and the charity is funded almost entirely by voluntary donations.

"It is important for our pupils to care about the wider community and I am delighted to see them finding ways to contribute towards the care of those less fortunate than themselves."

Wiktor Daron, headteacher at Saint Paul’s, paid tribute to the students for their "generosity of spirit and willingness to get involved."

He said: "As a school, we encourage our pupils to have a social conscience.

"Pattaya Orphanage is making a big difference to the lives of real people in Thailand. It was founded by a Catholic priest, Father Ray Brennan, so we can continue the Catholic ethos that is the foundation of our school."

For more information about the Pattaya Orphanage Trust e-mail school@pattayaorphanage.org.uk.

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