More than a year after the Boxing Day tsunami, the rebuilding work continues in Sri Lanka. Education reporter Haydn Lewis went to Fulford School, in York, where an industrious band of sixth formers are trying to get businesses to support their bid to help locals get back on their feet.

FOR some of us, the Boxing Day tsunami has faded to a distant memory.

But that is not the case for a group of 24 sixth formers from Fulford School, who are busy raising £29,000 to help villagers on the stricken island of Sri Lanka rebuild their lives.

The tsunami killed more than 35,000 people along Sri Lanka's shores, wiping out entire towns and villages. More than a year on the government and aid agencies have built only a fraction of the number of permanent houses needed for tens of thousands of displaced survivors.

The project came about following the disaster in January 2005, when the youngsters at Fulford returned to their lessons and decided they wanted to do something to help.

Teacher Jeanette Huntington, who is acting as the project co-ordinator, said: "I have travelled to many areas of the developing world, and always been both inspired and humbled by the people I've met and the experiences I've had.

"I've long wanted to share this with the students, and after seeing the enthusiasm of the students last year in raising money for the victims of the tsunami, I thought it was a perfect opportunity to find a project in which they could become personally involved."

When the project was suggested there was so much interest from youngsters that the 24 who will be travelling had to be handpicked after a letter writing competition.

The students are funding their £500 airfare, and raising the remaining £29,000 for the project through various fundraising events.

To date they have raised £5,000 through doing pretty much every sponsored event they could think of, including car washing, holding Christmas and Valentine's Day balls and making and selling Christmas cards.

There are still a host of events lined up for the months ahead, including a ceilidh and car boot sale, before the youngsters fly out to the Mantara region of Sri Lanka in July.

They are also in the process of organising a bands night at Fibbers on May 18.

They will work with a non-governmental organisation in Sri Lanka whose main focus is the development of rural communities.

Now the students have got their parents involved to help them raise some of the rest of the money needed.

A small committee of parents has got together and they, and the youngsters are trying to attract businesses to make financial contributions, however large or small they may be.

Parent Mike Mandelbaum said the best way for businesses to come on board is through the projects website, www.fsprojectsrilanka.co.uk

Mike's stepson, 16-year-old Zac Seager, who is one of those taking part, said: "One of the main reasons we are going is there is a lot of building work that needs to be done still and work improving sanitation also work rebuilding fishing boats.

"We are going there to try and do our part."

Hannah Darton, 16, said: "We'll get the chance to experience a different culture."

Lauren King, 16, said: "My dad's just been out there and said it was quite quiet at the moment."

Amy Barker, 17, said: "I think it's going to be a lot of hard work, but it will be very rewarding because we'll be able to see what it's doing for the people out there."

For James Pauw, 17, the trip will be the first time he has been out of Europe. He said: "The important thing is it's not just for us to go on a holiday - which is what a lot of people round school have been saying - but for us to go out there and try and help rebuild Sri Lanka."

Updated: 10:57 Wednesday, March 01, 2006