TEENAGERS trying to raise awareness of a disease that has devastated a continent have returned from a trip to Africa.

Ten youngsters travelled from Darlington to Lesotho to look at HIV and Aids education schemes for young people working in schools and the community.

The teenagers, from the Raising Awareness In Darlington group, spent ten days with the Youth Against HIV (YAH) team in the south African country.

They visited Hlotse High School, where at least half of the pupils have been orphaned by Aids; Molapo High School; and St Paul's School for the Deaf, where they completed a gardening project.

At Potmain Primary School, they talked to pupils and played games, then handed over Darlington Football Club kits and sports equipment.

They also attended a youth Aids conference and shared tips on how the African youngsters could lobby to get more youth clubs.

They travelled to Lesotho with Darlington Borough Council's Youth Service.

Now back in Darlington, they are planning to share their experiences with the community and will upload photos, videos and accounts of their trip onto the Youth Service website, at www. darlington.gov.uk/evibe

The group is working with Darlington Media Group to produce a short documentary about their experiences. It will be shown during a tour of schools and community groups early next year.

They are also continuing their fundraising efforts so the YAH group can visit Darlington next year.

David Shutt, 17, who attends Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, said: "It was brilliant and eye-opening. It showed how much we have over here.

"No matter how little we have over here, we have got so much more than they have got."

Rachel Binks, 15, from Branksome School, said: "It was amazing. It was really nice to go over there and see how people in other countries live."

Hebert Dirahu, who led the group on the trip, said personal experience of other cultures was vital to understanding the world.

He said: "I could tell from when we set foot in Africa they were surprised by the way of living. The experience was a culture shock to them.

"I would like to think that they got to understand quite a lot of things."