A NORTH YORKSHIRE civil engineering student is giving up his summer vacation to travel to south-western Uganda to help build a new community education centre.

Will Shaw, from Topcliffe, near Thirsk, is one of 12 students from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne who will work on the project in the small town of Mbarara.

Working in partnership with Lasallian Developing World Projects, a registered charity, the Mbarara Project team's members will put their engineering skills to good use, helping local builders and craftspeople complete the first phase of the project, which will include the first three rooms and foundations for later stages of the project. When it is completed, the centre will serve 35,000 members of the local youth population, providing advice and training on a wide range of subjects from health matters to education. But before they leave for Uganda, on June 13, they need to raise £18,000 to buy materials and cover the costs of the expedition, and they are hoping that local businesses will be willing to support them.

"Mbarara lies in a highly-underdeveloped area of the world, one which is currently being ravaged by HIV and Aids, a vicious and sustained civil war and extreme poverty," said Will, a former Ripon Grammar School student.

"The result of our efforts will be a badly-needed facility for the local population in a highly-deprived area."

If anyone would like to support Will and the Mbarara project team, offers of building materials and tools, or items suitable to raffle to raise funds, as well as cash donations, would be greatly appreciated. Phone Will on 07736 943470.

Updated: 10:37 Monday, May 24, 2004