Underprivileged pupils in a Romanian school are set to benefit from stronger links with an Oxfordshire college, writes Tim Hughes

Students and staff at Faringdon Community College have launched an appeal to boost education and sport at the school in Sebis, Transylvania.

The school has suffered from years of under-investment and lacks facilities taken for granted in most of Europe.

The community college hopes to raise around 1,500 to send a television, video recorder and cassette player to the Balkan nation, to improve English language teaching.

There are also plans to raise up to 2,000 to fly young sports fans from Sebis to England, to take part in the International Youth Basketball Festival taking place in Faringdon in June.

Links between Faringdon and Sebis have steadily strengthened over the past six years, following efforts by Faringdon Baptist Church to improve living conditions in the Romanian town, which suffered as a result of decades of totalitarian rule and international isolation under President Ceausescu. Last year Faringdon pupils sent aid packages to Sebis, and earlier this year people in the town paid for a 16-year-old Sebis student to study English in Oxford for six weeks.

Next year the college hopes to send a group of young musicians from Faringdon to Romania to further improve links. There are also plans to start a scholarship fund allowing six Sebis students to study in Faringdon every year.

Nick Liddiard, of Faringdon Baptist Church, has been at the forefront of efforts to promote links between the two communities.

He said: "After visiting the school I was appalled at the lack of equipment.

"We have everything here while they have nothing. The children there realise education is important and we want to help them."

He added: "The college is really committed as it is a good thing for young people. It broadens their outlook and allows them to see what goes on in a poorer country."

Students plan to hold a fundraising non-uniform day later this month.

To help with the appeal, call Faringdon Community College on 01367 240375.