AMMANFORD church-goers who took on a missionary trip to Burkina Faso were so touched by their visit that they have launched a 2015 calendar to raise money for a school in the West African country.

Members from Ammanford Evangelical Church, Elim Church, Apostolic Church and Horizons in Llanelli joined forces to visit the deprived area.

Schoolteacher Cheryl Glover from Betws was part of an eight-strong group who travelled to Burkina Faso and visited churches, a school and villages to support locals with their knowledge in teaching, administration and medical training.

“I like an adventure, so I didn’t hesitate when the opportunity came up,” said Cheryl.

Burkino Faso, a land-locked country formerly known as the Republic of the Upper Volta, is currently the world’s third poorest.

Cheryl said: “I spent a week in the local school, which was set up in 2008 by an Icelandic couple.

“These children are some of the poorest in the country.

“It was amazing to see the children enjoying themselves and learning - something that is very rare in the country.”

Those who are less academic are taught different skills. The girls learn how to sew and the boys are taught motor mechanics.

“The school has received electrical tools to use in their skills lessons, but unfortunately there is no electricity, so they are unusable,” said 49-year-old Cheryl.

“This is where we came up with the idea of producing a calendar to raise money to install solar panels on the roof of the school so they have electricity, not just for the use of electrical tools but the school can also have lighting and proper refrigeration for the food.”

The calendar features beautiful pictures of the school children taken on the trip.

Local businesses have contributed 95 percent towards the cost of printing the calendar, which is available at a number of outlets.

“I’m humbled to see the churches and community working together to help the school thrive,” said Cheryl.

The calendars cost £10 each and are for sale in the following Ammanford stores - iplanning, Catherine Blair, Martin the Butcher, Innovation and Ammanford Evangelical Church offices on College Street.

You can also purchase them from Gerwyn’s fruit and veg, Llandeilo, and JGM and Morgan and Morgan, Cross Hands.