A Ghanaian charity committed to helping struggling communities has visited its supporters in York.

Hardi Tijani, executive director of the Regional Advisory Information and Network Systems (RAINS), visited York's International Service office to meet staff and bring them up to date on the country's projects to help the most deprived people access education.

The non-governmental organisation, which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, runs three major projects.

They include a farming programme to reduce the number of boys working as labourers, a drumming and dance group which educates children about sexual health, and a scheme that twins privileged and deprived schools.

A spokeswoman for International Service, on Rougier Street, said: "RAINS has ten years experience in facilitating access to education and improved livelihoods in rural communities in the Northern region of Ghana.

"Their Next Generation project focusses on access to education in the Savelugu and West Mamprusi districts which are among the poorest districts in Ghana.

"Due to the high degree of poverty, child labour and child trafficking cases are common.

"Many children therefore do not have opportunity of attending school."