While they might be on their summer holidays, a group of students from St Mary's College in Arklow are not resting in their efforts to raise funds for educational projects in the Gambia, one of the world's poorest nations.

The ten students, who recently completed Transition Year, are aiming to raise €35,000 and then visit the Gambia next February to observe the projects to be funded.

The original idea was to build an entirely new school, but after her recent preliminary visit to the country, coordinatign teacher Dee Ryan said the money would now be directed towards refurbishing and repairing existing schools.

There is a huge pressure on Diocesan funds there and many schools have been forced to close. We hope that we can donate the funds we raise to refurbish these schools and allow them to reopen,' she said.

During their seven-day trip, the students will visit a number of aid projects including rural schools and orphanages, and early-school-leavers and womens-education programmes.

They will be based in the countryside, about one hour's drive away from the Gambia's capital city, Banjul.

The fundraising effort continues apace, with the girls raising €800 in a sponsored walk last week in Tinahely and holding a car boot sale at the Inch market this Saturday (August 11).

There is also a table quiz at the Old Ship in Arklow on October 4 and various other events including coffee mornings and barbeques throughout the summer.

The key fundraiser coming up is a Masquerade Ball to be held in the Arklow Bay Hotel on Saturday, September 15.

Organisers are promising a wonderful evening of entertainment with dinner, dancing, merriment, spot prizes and a charity auction'.