A GROUP of North-East students are giving up their summer holidays to build a community centre in Africa.

The 12 civil engineering students at Newcastle University will carry out the construction project in a remote village of Mbarara, in south-western Uganda.

Among the group are Will Shaw, from Topcliffe, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, Andy Fawcett, from Hartlepool, and Bushra Naseer, from Newcastle.

The project, which was organised by charity Lasallian Developing World Projects, will run from June until August every year until 2009, with Newcastle University sending teams out each summer.

When completed, the centre will provide 35,000 young people with advice and training on a range of subjects from health matters to education.

The team leaves on June 13, but first needs to raise £18,000 to buy materials and cover the expedition costs.

Will, a former Ripon Grammar School pupil, said: "Mbarara is in a highly under-developed area of the world, and is ravaged by HIV and Aids, a vicious and sustained civil war and extreme poverty.

"The result of our efforts will be a badly-needed facility for the local population in a highly deprived area. Every penny we raise will make a profound difference."

To make a donation, contact Will on 07736 943470.