Four Bradford schoolgirls have raised £37,000 with a charity Christmas gift idea that helps to combat maternal mortality in Africa.

The teenagers at St Joseph’s Catholic College, Manningham, came up with an idea for a pack for mothers and babies in developing countries after learning that half a million women worldwide die each year because of complications related to pregnancy.

The aid agency Cafod adopted the idea as part of its range of ethical World Gifts, and the charity announced that sales of the youngsters’ Pack for Mums and Babies had raised £37,000, smashing their £30,000 target.

Isabella Ricordo, 16, Katie Dearden, 15, Kimi Omolokun, 16, and Megan Crowley, 15, were 14 when they won a business competition run by Partners in Innovation to find a ‘Solution for the Planet’.

For £30, a pack could contain all the essential life-saving items, dependent on each woman’s requirements, such as the training of a traditional birth attendant, a water filtration kit, essential medicines, and a mosquito net.

After winning the competition in 2008, the girls approached Cafod to turn their idea into reality.

They travelled to Nigeria in September, visiting villages and primary health-care clinics to see the difference their idea would make.

After returning, Kimi said: “It was really hard to meet young girls like us, who instead of having their exams to worry about, were scared because if they got pregnant there’s a one in 90 chance they might die, and it’s totally preventable.

“I think we realised that we can’t really change their whole lives but we can make a difference.”

Cafod’s manager for the Leeds region, Margaret Siberry, travelled to Nigeria with the girls.

She said of them: “I’ve been wowed and overwhelmed by them – composed, compassionate and articulate young women with a passion for justice. They’ve gone from being four ordinary teenagers to four outstanding role models in the space of 12 months and they’ve certainly been able to give the best gift to other women this Christmas.”

The Cafod World Gifts scheme allows people to purchase a gift of their choice, and in doing so make a donation towards a specific fund which will support people living in poverty in the developing world.

To view a film, pictures and read the girls’ blogs from their trip, or to buy a pack, visit cafod.org.uk/mumsand babies.

Cafod is the official overseas development and relief agency of the Catholic Church and works to end poverty and make a just world, helping the poor regardless of race or religion.