A GROUP of Paisley teenagers are making a huge difference to the lives of children at an African primary school.

Pupils at Gleniffer High School launched their ambitious project called, 'Make It Malawi - building a better future' to help Dzenza Primary in the African country.

As a result of their efforts, work is well under way transforming a derelict building into four new classrooms and a girls' toilet block in a poverty-stricken village.

In June, 24 fifth and sixth year Gleniffer High pupils will put the finishing touches to the building work when they visit the school in central Malawi.

Bosses at the Braehead mall agreed to fund the work with a £9000 donation to the pupils' fund- raising efforts.

Gleniffer High pupils brought in Scots charity, Classrooms for Malawi to organise the construction work using local tradesmen and materials.

Teachers at the African school say the work will make a huge difference to the lives of children there.

Dzenza Primary teacher, Newton Chafukira said: "We want to say a huge thank you to the pupils at Gleniffer High School and Classrooms for Malawi for their initiative, and to our friends at Braehead for the money they have contributed towards the construction of our new classrooms and the toilets. We are very grateful.

"We know for sure our pupils will now be learning very well because in the past, they were learning under trees and their classes were disrupted because of the rains.

"But very soon they will be under the shelter of the new classrooms being built."

Head teacher Consolata Kaddamanja added: "The work is proceeding well and we are very grateful for their support of Dzenza Primary School.

"When the classrooms and toilets are completed it will have a big impact on the pupils at our school.

"We are excited and look forward to Gleniffer pupils visit to Dzenza Primary School."

Tony Begley, Classrooms from Malawi charity coordinator, is the former deputy head teacher of Holyrood Secondary in Glasgow.

He is just back from Dzenza and said: "There is a crew of 10 building workers on site and since there are no cement mixers or mechanical diggers everything has to be done by hand.

"I have seen what the place was like before the work started and everything is now taking shape.

"You can see already there will be a total transformation with the new classrooms.

"Building a toilet block for girls is also very important as many girls just don't go to school because there are no bathroom facilities for them."

vivienne.nicoll@ eveningtimes.co.uk