Charity-conscious students from a Hatfield-based university are heading out to Africa to help build a playground for schoolchildren.

University of Hertfordshire Students’ Union volunteer and societies coordinator Carly Benton, and a group of students, are off to Uganda on June 6 for a month.

Carly’s fundraising target was a minimum of £700, which will go towards building the playground in the village of Jinja with charity East African Playgrounds.

So far she has raised more than £850, and is using her annual leave and spending £1,800 of her own money to pay for flights, accommodation and the necessary vaccinations.

Carly, 26, said: “The only thing I’m worried about is the heat.

“However, I’m so excited to be taking part in something so important for the community.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing Uganda too, as I’m a keen traveller, and I can’t wait to see the finished project at the end.”

In Uganda, her day will typically involve building work from 8am to lunchtime, followed by running activities with the children and teachers.

Her accommodation will be one of the classrooms on site that will be turned into a dormitory.

East African Playgrounds is a UK registered charity that aims to change the lives of children across East Africa by developing youngsters’ learning opportunities and environments.

* Carly is still raising money and to make a donation visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/CarlyBenton

* To find out more about the East African Playgrounds visit http://www.eastafricanplaygrounds.org/