A LIFE changing trip to Africa awaits for 48 teenagers – if they can find £4,000 each.

Great Marlow School pupils hoping to spend four weeks working on community projects in Tanzania have begun raising the cash for the trip in summer 2013.

Youngsters from years 10, 11 and 12 will spend ten days climbing the continents tallest mountain, Kilimanjaro, and two weeks working on community projects like building schools or teaching English.

The students will then spend a week travelling, including a safari in the world’s largest crater, Ngorogoro.

Andy Dean, the teacher organising the trip, said: “During their time in Tanzania, the students will be totally self-sufficient in a foreign country, so they have to buy, prepare and cook all their own food, do their own washing up, everything, they’ll be no hotels or porters, the students look after themselves.

“It’s a very significant trip for them, life changing in fact and a fantastic opportunity.”

The students have set about fundraising the £4,400 they each need to fund the trip. So far curry evenings have proved successful with car washing, bag packing in supermarkets and selling old clothes planned for the future.

“The students have to raise the money completely independently with no help from parents.

"This is a great opportunity for them to learn some valuable lessons and has given them something positive to focus on.”