Education in third world countries is, so often, a ladder out of deprivation. Reporter Alex Barham met a devoted aid worker from Harpenden who is helping children out of the poverty trap by giving them the opportunity to go to school.

Colette Usher is part of a network of volunteers, local businesses and schools improving the prospects of nearly 400 children in Africa by giving them the chance of an education.

Starting out as merely a small cluster of friends with illustrious ideas, Harpenden Spotlight on Africa (HSoA) is now a registered charity responsible for running Musoto Christian School in the densely populated slum area of Mbale, Uganda.

Inspired by Bob Geldoff's Make Poverty History campaign, the charity was founded 20 months ago and has, in that short time, made a colossal improvement to the lives of the 380 disadvantaged children, who were destined to follow in the footsteps of their destitute parents as labourers, illegal beer brewers or beggars.

While all children in Africa are entitled to a free education, it's Government cannot afford to provide enough schools for the country's ever-expanding population.

There are just two schools serving thousands of children in the slum area of Musoto, one is the charity's school where classes are held in cramped conditions in a delapidated church and temporary mud huts.

So far HSoA has raised just under £30,000 to pay teachers salaries, provide uniforms and text books as well as school lunches.

But not content with providing essential learning tools, the town charity is now eagerly working towards building, renovating and equipping a brand new primary school.

The project has been propelled into action thanks to a considerable donation by The Amateurs Trust.

Chairman of HSoA Colette, of Piggotshill Lane, Harpenden, who was born in Uganda and spent the first 11 years of her life there. She said: " It's absolutely empowering, particularly as I now appreciate the children here in St Albans and Harpenden clamber for good schools - the lists are extensive.

"It's the same in Africa, they clamber for schools.

"I'm delighted that we could be giving children a chance; if parents have an educated child then better money comes home.

"I'm really pleased that we're making a difference to a lot of childrens' lives."

"I am proud to be chair of this new town charity and to see the enthusiasm HSoA has recieved in its short life - our town has been nothing short of amazing.

"Making poverty history is a huge challenge - some will say impossible - and yet we can be sure Harpenden is bringing about a difference to some impoverished children who, without HSoA, would never have a chance to better their lives and that of their communities.

"I never in my wildest dreams thought of going back, or having anything to do with Uganda again. I just had such a wonderful childhood there and now it's my chance to give something back."

Musoto school was founded by local pastor Victoria Okeny, who felt such a deep sympathy for the many impoverished children living in the slum area that she gave up her own time to teach them how to read and write, using only the most basic classroom tools.

The demand for another learning facility in the area quickly become obvious to Victoria when more and more children began to descend on her teaching sessions. Before HSoA stepped in, Victoria neither had the facilties, the man power or the learning material to help the many deprived slum children so eager to master the most simple task of writing their own name.

Colette said: "Victoria found it difficult to say no and turn the children away - they were so desperate.

"Parents were saying to her 'please take on my child'."

"The school is now a victim of it's own success - the better it gets, the more children will be clambering to get in."

Now director of the school, Victoria said: "I'm very grateful to the Harpenden people for their generous contribution which has enabled children who could not go to school to obtain quality education.

"The Musoto community are very thankful to the Harpenden Spotlight on Africa and Harpenden people for giving their children an opportunity to go to school.

"Parents and children of Musoto know that education is the way out of poverty. This education will enable their children to become doctors, lawyers, engineers, pastors and many others, and this will be to the benefit of our nation."

Many of the pupils are orphans whose families have been torn apart by the aids epidemic sweeping the continent. Harpenden GP, Dr Bethan Reece, of the Elms Practice in Stewart Road is willingly giving up her time in January to travel to the slum to assess the health situation. In time the charity hope to set up a clinic, and raise awareness of the killer disease and other deadly illnesses like Malaria, which claim the lives of so many.

Recently a group of local ladies held a cream tea afternoon to raise money to supply Malaria education and mosquito nets for Musoto teachers who are particularly vulnerable to infection during lesson time. It is tireless fundraising events such as these that largely supports the charity's project. Simple fundraisers such as a tombola at the Harpenden Highland Gathering and similar community gatherings have raised an extortionate sum of money for the cause.

The charity has also been successful in forging links between pupils at St Nicholas school in Church Green, Harpenden and the children at Musoto school. An exchange system has been organised enabling pupils from both schools to write letters to each other describing the similarities and contrasts between their communities.

The charity will also be launching a competition in Harpenden schools where children are asked to write a story featuring their experiences of living in the town. Author of Bartimaus Trilogy Jonathan Stroud will be picking a winner from the entries, which will be displayed in Harpenden Library.