Students from seven Oxfordshire schools have raised £6,000 to send directly to the victims of genocide in Darfur.

The money will be sent specifically to women and children rape victims in Darfur, via the Oxford University Aegis Society.

Pupils from Chipping Norton School, Marlborough School, Woodstock, Henry Box and Wood Green Schools in Witney, Bartholomew School, Eynsham, Carterton Community College and Burford School united to raise more media awareness about the atrocities of the Darfurian genocide.

They organised a week of fundraising efforts, including a no-uniform day, collection buckets and some generous parental donations, to coincide with the handing over of a 6,000-signature petition to Conservative Party leader David Cameron.

Rachael Warwick, deputy headteacher at Bartholomew School, said: "This was the first time that students from all seven west Oxfordshire schools have joined together to work for a common aim.

"The petitions ask for increased political focus and media coverage of the situation in Darfur.

"The meeting between the students and David Cameron was a great counter-blow for the widespread stereotypical presentation of young people as being politically apathetic and morally disengaged.

"The appalling number of those killed since the genocide of 2002 inspired our students to raise awareness about the Darfurians who have been killed, raped or had their homes and villages destroyed.

"This week shows that individual action does count and that young people do have an important role to play in politics."

Sarah Feast is a Year 12 student at Bartholomew School and was involved with the project.

She said: "It was great to make people aware of the problems in our world, and see their positive response to the Darfur initiative through monetary donations and support.

"This money will be used to directly support women and young girls who have been victims of rape and violence in Darfur."

Last week, Hollywood director Steven Spielberg stood down as artistic adviser to the Beijing Olympics in protest at China's lack of progress in resolving the humanitarian crisis in Darfur.