We want to raise £700 to help the children of Banbury International Community School, in Sierra Leone, to create, plant, and sustain their own school vegetable garden.

This self-built community school provides an education for the children of Mabureh community, teaching approximately 160 pupils - aged 4-16 years - in its two small classrooms.

I have been fortunate enough to follow the school's development, from building site, to its official opening, and imminent expansion. I am delighted to say that building is now underway to erect two much needed, additional classrooms.

In a country where employment opportunities are rare, it's essential that the children be taught fundamental skills of self-sustainability in addition to the core curriculum.

The school garden would add valuable farming skills to the syllabus, teaching the older children how to grow their own vegetables - from seed to harvest.

The Community Farmer has generously agreed to donate two plots of fertile farm land to the school for the garden, which I went to see last week. The farmer will work with the children and the school's headmaster, to teach them how to prepare, sow, grow and harvest Cassava and Okra - seasonal vegetables which will grow easily in the country's imminent dry season.

The school's headmaster - Thomas - is eager to assign weekly lesson time to the project, and the children are excited about playing an active role in farming their own crops, and learning about agricultural practices and theory.

£700 will fund enough tools, wheelbarrows, fertilizer, and seeds for each child to get 'hands on' with the project and to see the first of many harvests to come!