FOUR local volunteers are to spend a month this summer using their skills to improve neglected school buildings in South Africa.

They will visit Tiki-Tiki -- a desperately poor rural village in Eastern Cape where children struggle on a daily basis to get enough food to exist.

The four, who are employed by Bolton-based Partners in the Community, are giving up their holidays to go out with colleagues to tackle a much-needed building project.

work at Gcisa Senior Secondary and Tiki-Tiki Junior Secondary will include the demolition and construction of classrooms, painting, replacing broken windows, concreting paths, repairing broken furniture and providing water butts.

Mark Thomas, of New Bury, Farnworth, is operations manager for Partners in the Community, a not-for-profit company which operates two skill centres for pupils aged 14 to 16 in East Manchester and Swinton.

The skills being taught are carpentry, bricklaying, painting and decorating and catering.

Mr Thomas, who is 37, flew to Africa in April and carried out a detailed survey of the work which needs to be completed.

When the party arrives on July 20 it will be seeking to establish a training model -- based on the East Manchester Vocational Learning Centre at Medlock Valley High School -- which will allow work to continue long after they return to England.

Those accompanying Mr Thomas include project director Frank Hankinson of Little Hulton, Shaun Gildea of Breightmet and Terry Antrobus of Little Hulton.

"It is a culture shock," Mr Thomas said.

"The housing is all mud huts and there is no running water or electricity."

But a link with the South African Rotary Club means that the volunteers will stay with families during their time in the country.

It will mean a one and a half hour journey by 4x4 vehicle each morning and evening to and from the nearest town, Tsolo.

Mr Thomas and the rest of the party were inspired to do something about the state of the schools when they heard from Jenni Elliott, a teacher at Medlock Valley High School, who had made a visit.

About 40 African children and some of their teachers will be involved in the project.

"Hopefully they will pick up skills which they will need in the future," Mr Thomas said.

"We hope someone will go back every year -- hopefully it will be the start of a long-term project."

The volunteer group is raising money to fund the trip and is also hoping tools will be donated to help with their work. Mark can be contacted on 0161 273 4128.