Dorset Couple Build Sudan School

31 May 2010, 07:45 | Updated: 31 May 2010, 08:18

A mum and dad from Dorchester have raised £100,000 to fund the building of a secondary school in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan.

Richard and Claire Budd raised the money through public donations since August 2008.

After 21 years of civil war in the country, the Grace Secondary school is in one of the most educationally needy places on the planet.  120 girls and boys have been given places and the team are working with the local community to encourage more girls into education.

Claire spoke to Heart about their achievement:

"My husband was on an assignment in Sudan. They visited a school which was a mud hut building and it was having to close because they had lost their funding.

"We'd just had our daughter when Richard made the trip and I think that played a strong role in how upset we were really to hear about the strife they have there and the lack of opportunity."

3,000 local people in the area turned out for the opening ceremony with local children and choirs performing.

The charitable couple are still campaigning and need to raise more money as it costs £30,000 a year to keep the school running.