SIXTH formers from Stonar School in Atworth have returned from a trip to Romania where they worked with a Trowbridge charity to help the poorer rural communities.

After raising £6,787 from various activities, the group of girls from Stonar, in Cottles Park, travelled with the Trowbridge charity People Against Poverty to help develop the agricultural community in north-east village of Uncesti.

Charlotte Bennet, head of Sixth Form at Stonar, said: “We were there for 10 days, we have been working with People Against Poverty since 2009. We used to go on trips every year but now we do it every other year so the teams have longer to raise more money. The girls spent the last two years taking part in charity bag packing at Waitrose, bake sales, auctions, anything they could to raise the money.”

During their trip to the village, the pupils discovered skills they had never used before as they sawed, hammered and planed to construct a 17-metre poly-tunnel on the farm. The farm benefits 150 families in the area, helping them to work, produce, trade and sell.

“The people we are helping have so little and to be able to help them is a real learning experience. The girls found it quite difficult, after spending as much time as they have fundraising and then visiting the people to realise that all of that time has only added such a small thing in comparison to the way they live. The girls have already started planning the fundraising to help them buy a tractor for the farmers there,” added Mrs Bennet.

The girls also helped with the building of a house and making doors for a mill building, something they contributed money to so the families in the area could grind maize and become more self-sufficient.

Issy Collins, head girl of Stonar Upper Sixth, said: “Each girl worked extremely hard and I can speak on behalf of the whole team when I say that this amazing experience has allowed us to develop personally in different ways.”

Plans are already in motion for the current Year 10 and Year 11 pupils of Stonar to begin the next two years of fundraising so the project can continue.

Amy Tokel, pupil of Stonar’s Lower Sixth, said: “It was an amazing and eye-opening experience and we all enjoyed working together towards such an important cause.”