AS Europe faces its biggest refugee crisis since World War II, young people in Bolton experienced one youngster's unimaginable situation through a powerful and moving exhibition.

Thornleigh Salesian College staged its annual Mission Week before half-term to show how pupils could help those in need.

There was a special emphasis on refugees, with young people and staff being able to follow Dianne Ngoza's journey to sanctuary through an emotional interactive exhibition which has been created by the Lee House Centre for Mission Awareness working with CAFOF, British Red Cross and Caritas to tour schools.

It was set up at the school especially for the week.

Children follow Dianne into her house in Democratic Republic of Congo, where she is happy but is forced to flee in fear of her life with her family.

They follow her horrific journey in the back of a lorry, into a detention centre and finally being allowed to stay in the UK.

Throughout their journey, the pupils hear her voice telling her story through headphones as they move throughout the poignant audio and visual exhibition.

The exhibition followed the school’s appeal to help those stranded in Calais and they donated a storeroom full of necessities which were sent to be distributed to those living in the what has been termed “The Jungle”.

Throughout the week, the school showed how the young people could put “mission in action” by hearing from different charities and organisations.

They included Water Aid, CAFOD — Catholic International Development Charity, North West Ambulance Service, Teenage Cancer Trust, Urban Outreach, a charity to help the homeless, and the Medaille Trust, which works to raise awareness and stop human trafficking and exploitation.

All the charities and organisations showed how the young people could put the themes around acts of mercy into practice.

School chaplain Sandy Fairley said: "It has been an incredible week. Some pupils have been in tears.

"We had some attending confession.

"As school chaplain, for me this week has been bringing young people to God. We are fortunate to have a chapel in school and children have been going in to light candles."