SCHOOLGIRLS are giving up their time to refurbish a caravan for child refugees in Calais.

The 90 Year Ten girls, from Chelmsford County High School, have been raising money by holding fundraising activities over the last few months to pay for the caravan, which will eventually become home for unaccompanied seven and eight-year-old refugees in France.

The school has been working with the Watford Boys School and the Jungle Canopy charity to complete the project.

The caravan will be sent to Calais on May 10 and French teacher Yannick Simonnot, who has been working on the project with teachers Dr Helena Graham and Joanne Banham, will visit Calais to ensure the caravan arrived safely.

Dr Helena Graham said: "The girls are very keen and really excited to help other young people who have so much less than them. Their enthusiasm and commitment to making this project work is absolutely fantastic."

The school is also asking for donations of games, stationary, furnishings, and wind-up items such as torches to put in the caravan.

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