Bakewell-based Village Aid has been awarded £148,000 from the government to teach youngsters in rural schools.

Taddington and Priestcliffe Primary School pupils have already begun learning with Village Aid and organisers plan to involve schools from across Derbyshire during the three-year Growing Global scheme.

Drama education coordinator Helen Hunter said: "Getting out into schools to develop children's global education is vital.

"Growing Global will look at the ways schoolchildren's lives are connected to their peers in Africa, such as going to school, living with family and friends, but we also want to highlight the differences, things we often take for granted such as good living conditions, health care, education and having constant access to food and water."

The project will involve an interactive website, which will connect young people in Derbyshire to children in West Africa, and enable them to share stories. This information will then be used by the charity to create a theatre production which will tour rural schools.