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This diary was part of the Africa Lives Season in 2005

This summer, students from two South Yorkshire schools travelled to Lesotho, a landlocked country surrounded by South Africa, to take part in a development project - the brainchild of inspirational teacher Ken Dunn.

Ken's photos show the project and scenery

The primary aim was to boost the numbers of children in education in the Malealea valley, by helping to improve the infrastructure there. Along the way the students from Royston High in Barnsley and The City School, Sheffield made some great local friends and had their eyes opened to lives completely different to their own.

With the help of some cameras, a satellite 'phone, a laptop and some basic training from us at the BBC, the students shared their experiences with us. They sent us their online diaries direct from Lesotho and helped to make a video report for BBC Look North on their return.

Use the links on the right (or at the bottom) of the page to read their diaries and see the latest images in the picture gallery. Below, teacher Ken Dunn looks back at what the trip achieved and gives his opinion on the way forward for the valley:

South Yorkshire through different eyes!

It’s great to back home with everyone reunited with their loved ones.

The expedition has been a tremendous success and it is hugely satisfying for me to listen to the staff and pupils recounting their experiences as the view the many photographs taken.

There are many outcomes from such an undertaking:

Firstly - 40 people from our region have experienced life in Southern Africa – up close and personal - and that must surely stay in their consciousness for many years to come.

The physical outcomes can be seen in around the four schools and the two community learning circles with whom we worked.

Transformation by numbers...

1. At Malealea High School an amazing transformation has been achieved. The school buildings have been patched and painted including the roof and its timber joists. Three murals adorn the walls of these and inside is a library all indexed and shelved. Posters raising the awareness of HIV/ Aids and others encouraging people to read have been made and are displayed on the library walls.

2. At Malealea Primary  and Malealea pre-school buildings were painted inside and out and a double swing constructed in the playground.

3. At Makhatheng Primary a major refurbishment took place with many of the students who have attended construction courses in the UK were called upon to use their skills. Mortar was prepared and extensive patching, pointing and plastering was completed before painting was undertaken of the external walls and roof.

4. With the Makhatheng Learning Circle hundreds of young trees were planted in almost impossibly hard ground. These were lovingly watered and mulched and Reanne even carried the water to site in true Malealea fashion on her head!

5. At Tsinyane a huge operation was undertaken to terrace the hillside and wall the front of the terraces with stone - collected locally. The terraces were then cultivated in preparation for planting in the spring. Hundreds of trees were planted here to stabilise the soil and provide fuel wood for the community. Work was undertaken to repair a growing erosion scar and divert the streamway responsible into the dam which we helped build in 2003.

Pupils sort donated shoes before leaving SY

6. Our doctors worked closely with the clinic nurse and were amazed at her work load and appetite for work! Makhalisho treats everyone and is very highly thought of. Our doctors worked alongside her and gleaned that, in addition to HIV/AIDS, people are dying from waterborne infections. Preventable deaths is a phrase used a lot in recent weeks and some wealthy countries are not wishing to tackle this with their money as they claim good governance must come first.

In Malealea the latter is certainly in place with the formally constituted Malealea Development Trust. I have met with the trustees and trust them totally. Water is clearly our next major focus in parallel to supporting the pupils through school.

This community has got to us in a deep and meaningful way. As one of the students was heard to say: “We’ve left Malealea but Malealea has not left us."

Our commitment to support this community is clear but of equal importance is the message that needs to be conveyed by those who have been touched by our friends' warmth. Assembles will form an important part of this but so too will be public speaking and we look forward to hearing from anyone interested in such an illustrated talk.

Anyone who wishes to support the Malealea Development Trust directly can contact Ken Dunn

For more information about the Malealea Development Trust, email kd@city.sheffield.sch.uk