Pestalozzi Friends round for tea

Committee secretary Carol baked an amazing variety of delicious cakes that were on offer. Singing and dancing was provided throughout the afternoon by students from Pestalozzi International Village; Margaret Leppard sold jewellery which she had donated and there was a raffle.

Chairman Irene Coy said that the money raised from the event goes to the student fund to help with personal extras like toiletries and anything else that they would otherwise be unable to provide themselves.

She said that the students, who spend three years at Pestalozzi, are all from deprived families and that they, "apply themselves and do so well over here. They really are marvellous youngsters."

Student programme co-ordinator Liz Chahal said: "It's fantastic to see so many people here today in support of us and we are very very grateful to the Bexhill and Little Common Support Group".

The students will all be leaving early next month, some will return home and others who have been lucky enough to win scholarships will continue their studies either here in the UK, in the USA or Germany.

Liz said: "We want the students to be as highly qualified as possible before they return to their home villages; we've had students go on to Oxford, Harvard and Yale. We're like a big family, it's always sad to see them leave but it's equally as exciting to see them go out into the world and see them make their mark."

One such student who is due to spend the next four years studying Economics in Georgia USA is Khushbu Mishra. Her home is in Nepal where she lives with her mum, dad, grandparents, four sisters and a brother and said that they are all, "very proud."