YOUNGSTERS are reaching out to pupils overseas in an attempt to understand cultural differences.

The Teesside Prep School pupils, in Eaglescliffe, near Stockton, have made contact with a school in South Africa and are busy exchanging e-mails about their lives and schools.

The school is now working to help less fortunate children in a village in Johannesburg.

Class teacher Carol Lara said: "It's heart warming to see that our children are concerned about the people of the world and global issues.

"The project has certainly increased the children's interest in other countries, and they seem more aware of their own culture.

"Hopefully, they will learn to understand differences."

She added that involving the school in an international project would increase cross-curricular activities and co-operation between teachers. Discussions with teachers in South Africa will enable them to compare systems and teaching methods.

"It has provided some children with their first contact with other countries, and brought a big change to normal school life," she said.

The girls, aged six and seven, are contributing to a fundraising activity for a school in the area of Alexandra, Johannesburg.

They have made a piggy bank from papier mache and are giving up their favourite treats, such as sweets and ice cream, to enable them to donate money to buy equipment for the school.