A TEACHER is travelling to Ghana to teach children about life at Emmanuel Holcombe CE primary school.

Helen Clark, a year five and six teacher at the school on Helmshore Road, is one of only three teachers in the country to be invited on the once-in-a-lifetime trip.

It has been organised by the Church Mission Society (CMS) as a way to forge links between schools in the UK and Ghana.

Children at Emmanuel Holcombe have been preparing a project about their education, which Helen will take to Ghana to share with schoolchildren there.

Helen, who lives in Walshaw, said: “It’s a privilege to be going and to have the school supporting me. I am hoping it will help our school to appreciate how fortunate they are.”

During her trip the teacher will collect photographs to show her pupils what life is like in a Ghanaian school.

The primary school hopes to establish a long-term global citizenship, which will be maintained by email and written letters “Our school is going to develop a link with a school in a very different culture.

“The children won’t have the same facilities as us and the teaching will be a lot more about standing up and speaking,” said Helen.

Headteacher Tim Power said: “This is a fantastic opportunity, not just for Helen but for the school making global links.

“I’m proud of her and it’s very exciting. She has worked hard to get the children to put picture books together to leave our legacy.”

Last year Helen, who is a member of Emmanuel Church, attended a CMS event, called Free For All, in celebration of the abolition of the slave trade.

After the event, the society sent out letters inviting people to apply for the trip to Ghana and Helen was chosen.

She has thanked the church for their support and is planning to give a talk about the trip to the congregation.

In preparation, Helen has visitied Oxford, where the CMS are based, to meet fellow travellers and discuss the trip.

“I’m very excited but slightly anxious about teaching in an African school and course there are all the injections!” said Helen.

She sets off tomorrow for the ten-day trip.