Gosport pupils make new friends 6,000 miles away after twinning with Kenyan primary school

One school has interactive whiteboards, state-of-the-art WiFi, and pupils who carry expensive smartphones in their rucksacks; the other simply has four walls and some benches for students to sit on.

But despite their remarkable differences, students from Alverstoke Junior School in Gosport and Kitoo Primary School in Kenya have become firm friends, after the schools officially twinned.

It comes after the students spent months getting to know one another, sending letters as pen pals before finally meeting one another over Skype.

By twinning with the Kenyan primary school, pupils are hoping to make a difference to those less fortunate, giving them the head-start in life they deserve.

Merryn Burrows, Year 4, said: ‘It feels like a really big opportunity to talk to somebody who lives far away.

‘We’ve had letters through and sent ones back to them.’

Arnie Gransden from Year 5 added: ‘It makes me feel proud – we’ve been able to help them and make friends with people who live halfway around the world.’

A recent cake sale raised more than £170, which will be used to buy trees that will provide shade from the intense African sunshine.

The partnership between the two schools was arranged by charity Chase Africa.

Teacher Sarah Jones said: ‘It started with the pupils becoming pen pals and the friendship has developed from there.

‘It's great for the children because the schools are worlds apart – seeing pictures of the classrooms and so on was mindblowing for them.

‘They’ve seen how we have so many resources that we take for granted, whereas their classes are four walls and some benches.

‘We want to raise enough money for them to plant an acre of trees, but our young governors have really taken the initiative and that's amazing to see.’

Adam Norgate from Year 6 said: ‘It’s really exciting because I don't know a lot about Africa, but have learned so much about their school.’

As a thank you for their generosity, Kitoo Primary School will be sending a tree to Alverstoke Junior School later in the year.