(Justmeans.com / CSR News) - 20 volunteers from Turner Broadcasting's London, Milan and Munich offices raised over £30,000 and in March spent a week in Mali building a school to replace the old grass hut where children are taught at the moment. It is on the edge of a village called Farada which is in the middle of the countryside, a two and a half hour drive across country from Bamako, the Malian capital. Turner Broadcasting System Europe is the company behind CNN, Cartoon Network, TCM and other well known channels which it broadcasts throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East so building a school in Africa fits very well with its staff, viewers, advertisers and business partners.

The group were greeted by around 1000 people and it quickly became clear that it was the biggest thing that has happened in the area for a very long time. Everyone in the village and from several miles around came to welcome the team and sing and dance. The villagers live very much as they have done for thousands of years with no electricity or phones, still living in traditional mud huts and growing everything they need. They have a short life span because of disease and lack of amenities but are extremely happy and hospitable. The new school will mean that the children can get a better education as they won't have to go home when it rains or when the locusts come and they now have latrines and a well which will make their daily lives a lot easier.

The villagers all helped with the building project, even the women who would not normally do this kind of work but were inspired by the women on our team. There are professional masons in charge of the project which will be finished soon.

CNN reported on this in 'Backstory' in March and there will also be an article in CNN Traveler magazine. View Backstory at http://edition.cnn.com/video and put MALI in the ‘Search All Video’ box.

If you would like to know more about the charity see:

http://www.plan-international.org

For more information please contact:

Nick Hart

Head of Corporate Social Responsibility

Turner Broadcasting Europe

nick.hart@turner.com

+44 207 693 1228