Mission Malawi: Volunteers from the East Midlands build a school in Africa By Anne Davies

Five years ago a Leicestershire student was so touched by the people of Malawi, poverty in Africa and the plight of its orphans that she decided to try and do something about it. Alice Pulford, from Rothley, Leicestershire, set-up the charity LoveTilinanu I've travelled to Malawi in south-eastern Africa with video journalist Paul Bradshaw to follow her story and that of 15 builders from the East Midlands. So the first step for Alice was to build an orphanage called Tilinanu which is located in the suburbs of the capital Lilongwe. Now five years on, we meet the 34 girls who live there - girls with a future, girls who sing and smile and now have something to live for. But the charity LoveTilinanu has not stopped there. Boys are being fostered out to widows in the village. It gives them the love of a mother and the security of a home. It gives the women a reason to live and a small income to help them survive. Phillip Hughes, from the Nottingham-based company P Hughes Construction Limited and his men from Swadlincote, East Leake, Wymeswold, Lincoln and Burton-on-Trent are performing a near miracle. They are building a school in 10 days. They have paid for it all themselves but as they all agree - it is one of the best things they have ever done. Thanks to Alice, her sister Nina and their mother Yvonne, the charity and its East Midlands supporters have helped a little part of Malawi to take a step closer to a better life. BBC News Leicester