PUPILS at a Teignmouth school have linked up with an orphanage in Brazil to find out what life is like for deprived children.
Year 5 at Trinity School is studying the country, and now the youngsters have linked up with the Avicres orphanage in Rio de Janeiro.
Teacher Liz Parker contacted Vera Queiroz, a chief fundraiser for Children's Aid, the charity that established the sanctuary.
Vera and her son, Ricardo, help to run orphanage, supported by hardworking volunteers. It currently houses more than 100 children, aged between one and 18. Many were living rough on the streets of Rio, the victims of abuse, abandonment or exploitation.
Children's Aid supports more than 500 children and their families across the Amazon region, undertaking such projects as the construction of classrooms, safe areas for games and recreation, and the setting up of a football training programme for boys.
Currently they are raising funds to build a community centre in one of the poorest areas of Rio, which would also provide residential accommodation for the children most at risk.
Liz Parker, Year 5 teacher, said: 'We started this geography link with the Rio orphanage last year. Each child in the class chooses a penpal from a list of names, and they begin exchanging letters.
'Vera's son, Ricardo, has visited the school to talk about his work at the orphanage, and produced a CD of photos taken in Rio.
'It's very exciting for my class to see what their penpals look like. The fact that our letters are in English, while theirs are written in Portugese doesn't seem to hold them back!
'The class is able to translate some of the words and pictures, and sketches help too.
'Vera sometimes is able to get the longer letters translated for us, as she works with volunteer students, both in England and Brazil.
'The link has been so successful, that the class asked if they could raise some money to help the orphanage.
'At our recent Easter bazaar they sold little dolls and tee-shirts, which promote Children's Aid, and have been bringing 2p and 1p coins into school to put into our Children's Aid collecting tin. So far we have raised more than £80.'