AN ECSTATIC team of Dorking A-level students will be reunited with their beloved former teacher when they travel to Uganda as volunteers this Easter.
Arthur Femwogerere, who taught ICT at The Priory School for four years, will join 11 teenagers painting a play area and providing sport equipment for Ndejje secondary and junior school.
Geography teacher and trip leader Richard Harrington, whose group has raised nearly £5,000, recalled the Kampala native once telling his students: "If only I could take you to Uganda."
Mr Harrington said: "The kids loved him. A really popular teacher and a very typical Ugandan – larger than life.
"[The students] are ecstatic and he is as well. I think because of how good he was.
"As an international teacher, he brought such richness of cultural diversity."
The eager teens – Zoe, Katrina, Ryan, Sam, Harry, Kathryn, Jess, Emily, David, Gabby and Libby – will join forces with Dorking-based charity East African Playgrounds.
The lucky youngsters, who fly to Entebbe on March 28, raised considerable funds thanks to a sponsored walk up Leith Hill.
Mr Harrington praised their fundraising efforts, which included pedalling through sponsored cycle rides.
"Not only are they all students that are about to go to university, and also preparing for June [exams], but the commitment from them has been massive," said the 41-year-old from Fairfield Drive.
Following a similar visit last Easter, and six years linked with the Ndejje school, they hope to concentrate on providing sports equipment.
Mr Harrington said: "We saw that sport is quite low down on their funding. We are keen to provide students there with the kind of opportunities that our students have got."
Head girl Katrina Elmes, 17, said: "I can't believe we're really going. I'm so looking forward to spending Easter in Uganda."
History teacher Jess Bailey, also leading the team, said she hoped the trip would be an "enriching opportunity" for all who went on it.
She said: "We felt it was a great opportunity to take the students to Uganda, act on the Christian ethos of our school and serve some of the world's poorest communities."
The school was given fresh inspiration following a recent school trip made with Olympic programme International Inspirations.
The Advertiser, which first ran a campaign supporting the charity in December 2011, sent former reporter Sam Blackledge to join the charity in Uganda last summer.
The programme is being spearheaded by Brockham resident Carla Powell and partner Tom Gill.
