Students have issued a thank you message to kind-hearted businesses and church groups who donated cash to save a vital school trip from being scrapped.

Dozens of CedarBridge Academy teenagers have now returned from their visit to Senegal and Morocco — and claim it was one of the most worthwhile experiences of their lives.

The trip had seemed set to become a victim of the mould crisis which plunged the school into disarray late last year as fundraising events had to be called off when the building was closed for an urgent $4-million clean-up programme.

It left teachers well short of their $100,000 target, and it was only after a number of desperate pleas for cash that generous donations from the public ensured the trip went ahead.

On returning home, students explained it was a chance for them to improve their language skills and explore ways of life they would otherwise not have seen.

Derek Musson, 18, said: "The trip was a wonderful experience. It was an eye opener. Morocco is a beautiful country, and in Senegal we saw people walking around with their heads held high even though they were poor.

"We are very thankful to the sponsors who helped us. It's a beautiful thing they did to help finance this trip. Bermuda's children really need to see things like this so they can appreciate what they have."

Staphen Dill, 17, said: "It was most definitely an excellent experience. You look at the amount of clothes we have — we want to buy outfits for every event that happens. And then you look at them — they maybe have two outfits that they have to wear every day. They were playing football barefooted. But it seemed like they were just grateful to be alive.

"I decided to give them what I could: extra shirts, some of my uniform and a pair of shoes. I felt pretty bad, so I just said 'there you go' and they were most grateful."

Aristia Wilson, 17, said: "We're all more appreciative of our Island now, and we should be more appreciative of our education."

Lisa DeSilva, head of social studies at CedarBridge, said the trip had enabled children from less well-off families the opportunity they might not otherwise get to broaden their horizons.

Sponsors include Bank of Bermuda, Island Construction, Bermuda Union of Teachers, BTEC, David Ezekiel, Atlantic Stitches, TeleBermuda, GET Fit, Lindo's Family Foods and Destiny's Call.

A thank-you letter will be published in Thursday Young Observer.