The response was beyond anything they could have imagined.

Their local community and school backed them totally. The machines flooded in from donors the length and breadth of the UK. Financial aid came from individuals as well as local and national authorities and organisations. Indeed, the students stole the hearts of several charities and individuals, all keen to back youngsters, eager to prove they could make a difference in a world where so many are denied the opportunities that they had enjoyed.

How can the team thank so many people for so much help? Quite simply the results of their efforts says it all.

How do you measure tears in the eyes of an 18 year old, leaving a community, love and friendship newly discovered on the other side of the world: a community where over 1000 people turn out just to say thank you as a room full of computers are officially handed over?

What does a teacher say when a South African host shakes his hand and thanks him for being the first white man to have entered his house?

When a customs officer in Nairobi took a stranger in his arms and said, "Thank you on behalf of Africa" , he was thanking all of you who contributed to this venture.

In Kenya extra pupils would sneak into every lesson we gave. When 34 students appeared and there were supposed to be 15 we had to draw the line !!

When asked. "What use are computers in a township which clearly has so many problems", a headmaster in a South African school replied, "Our government is building new schools; education gives hope, and a way for our young people to improve themselves. Computers are part of modern education and we want out pupils to compete with the best" .!!!

However, a new group of budding computer experts is poised to take over. They have already amassed 30 computers and intend to set up more centres next year.

Following a request from Meru school in Kenya to twin with Plockton High School, the team are examining ways of training a fully qualified Kenyan computing teacher using a Scottish training college and distance learning techniques.

Computers For Africa is presently applying for charitable status and to this end have set up a team of students, teachers, and members of the local community to act as a steering committee.

The team has received requests for computers from further schools visited whilst in Kenya and South Africa, and also from organisations and schools in Lesotho and Namibia.

They have learnt of the incredible thirst for new knowledge in the Third World, but above all they have discovered that a small group of individuals and youngster can really make a difference with the help of people like you !