Mexican mercy mission for Chelmsley Wood students

LIFE-CHANGING TRIP: Students from the Grace Academy outside the
newly-built homes in Tijuana, Mexico.

SPIRITED students from the Grace Academy have returned from a two week trip making a massive difference to people's lives in Mexico.

A team of 18 teenagers from the Chelmsley Wood school had travelled out to South America to help build homes for two families.

The Build Hope project saw pupils from five UK schools visit Tijuana - one of the fastest growing cities in Mexico, where poverty is a growing problem.

Before the students arrived, the families were living in the most basic conditions, without access to electricity, running water or a telephone.

The new homes, which had to be started from scratch using only hand tools, were built with concrete foundations and massively improved the locals' quality of life.

Dave Boden, assistant principal, said: "Build Hope is an incredible opportunity for young people to travel overseas and actively engage in making a positive difference."

Each student had to raise almost £1,500 to cover the cost of the trip.