A BRADFORD schoolgirl has paid an emotional visit to Kenya to see a project funded by Comic Relief.

Eboni Archer, 12, went to Africa after being chosen by Comic Relief out of 180 children from across the UK.

The Appleton Academy pupil's trip to Kisumu in western Kenya included a visit to the Widows and Orphans International (WOI) - Omega Foundation project.

WOI works with 40 widows and orphans groups, Port Florence Community Hospital, Kochogo High School and Kadina Health Centre.

She also visited the home of Violet, a nine-year-old orphan who was living with her bedridden grandmother.

Now her experiences will be televised during Comic Relief's live national broadcast this Friday.

She has also taken five assemblies in front of her schoolmates to talk about her experiences in Africa.

Eboni said: "The trip had a massive impact on me.

"It was amazing, I want to go back.

"I realised that I have so much and Violet has so little.

"It's completely different in Kenya to how it is over here.

"Going to the school was really different. They didn't even have any pencils.

"I didn't mind having the cameras from Comic Relief around me, I felt like Beyonce.

"I gave my trainers to Violet as she didn't have any shoes. She looked at them like she had gold in her hands. I gave her some of my clothes too.

"I've still got links to Violet so I can write to her.

"I can't wait to watch the film they did on Comic Relief night."

Eboni's mother, Nikki Archer, of Wilson Road, Wyke, said: "This was an amazing experience for us and a great learning curve for Eboni.

"We witnessed poverty on a level we have never seen before, yet everyone was more than willing to share anything they had with us.

"It has made us appreciate our own standard of living, diet, sanitation and the luxuries that we take for granted in this country."

Eboni's four-day trip last October was part of Appleton Academy's long-standing tie-up with Comic Relief.

The Woodside Road school has raised almost £6,500 for the cause since 2001.

Helen Jones, principal at Appleton Academy, said: "This was an amazing opportunity for Eboni.

“We are very proud of Eboni and her fundraising work.

"The school held a series of launch assemblies for all year groups last Friday to promote Eboni’s film and start fundraising for this year’s Red Nose Day."

Aleks Leimanis, Comic Relief's schools and youth manager, said: "Appleton Academy is a long standing supporter of Comic Relief and have been fundraising for us for years.

"We were delighted to be able to offer them this unique opportunity.

"Eboni showed a lot of passion for helping children in Africa and everyone agreed she would represent her school very well."