The sixth-form students from Calder High School in Mytholmroyd will travel to Uganda with the Great Generation Project.

The school is the first in England to send the students and hopes to make the trips an annual event.

Student Lucy Ratcliffe said: "We're nervous but excited. It will be a life-changing experience."

Sixteen students and five staff are going on the two-week visit in July. Once there they will be teaching English at an orphanage, creating a model garden and setting up a sports tournament.

They need to raise £20,000 to go.

The money will cover their flights and accommodation and be given to the community in the African country as a no-interest loan so they can set up businesses.

So far they have collected £6,000 and the teenagers have a series of fund-raising events planned.

These include a disco, bag-packing, talent show and a sponsored-walk to Stoodley Pike with an African-themed picnic at the top.

Pupils across the whole school will help travel the distance from Britain to Africa in a sponsored row, and head of sixth form Mike Howard is doing a fund-raising skydive.

He said he hopes the students will be able to make a lasting contribution to the community they will be working with.

"I want them to see how they can make a difference and learn about how lucky they are," he added.