STUDENTS from Shaftesbury have told of a “life changing” trip to a West African country which is recovering from a genocide in which 500,000 people died.

Six teenagers from the Shaftesbury School are back home from Rwanda and said they felt they had “a duty to support the country’s amazing people”.

Tom Sanger, Chantelle Wareham, George Ridgway, and Eric Brice said their journey was harrowing and uplifting.

“On the first day we were taken to a memorial garden with four mass graves containing the remains of 250,000 people,” said Tom.

“We were shown a ‘children’s room’, in which pictures of children killed in the genocide were hung alongside their names, their histories, and their last words. It was shocking.”

The students had travelled as representatives of the North Dorset charity, Msaada, for which the Shaftesbury School has raised more than £15,000.

They said Rwanda’s brutal past is eclipsed by the irrepressible optimism of its people and their desire for a better future.

“One of the greatest differences between the UK and Rwanda is the attitude of the people. Everywhere we went, the people were smiling,” said Eric.

All the Shaftesbury students took on teaching duties at the Excel Bilingual School, which became a partner of the Wincombe Lane comprehensive last year.

“The children were queuing outside of the school to be taught. They were so motivated to learn,” said George.

Chantelle added: “It was an eye-opening experience. You realise how little you need to be happy.”

The Year 12 students hope to return to Rwanda to continue with their efforts to make a difference.

“I wanted to work for a charity and the trip has left me really fired up. There’s so much work to be done, it feels like a duty to go back,” said Eric.

For information Msaada visit msaada.org.