FIFTEEN years have passed since the Advertiser first featured this story on St Joseph pupils' kind-hearted gesture of financial support for children in Africa.

Here's how we reported the news in 2004...

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KIND-HEARTED pupils at St Joseph’s Primary School in Helensburgh have handed over a cheque for more than £1,000 to help their counterparts in Africa.

Father Simon of the Gorsilaure project visited the school to receive £1,680, which will go towards easing the harsh living conditions of children in the Congo and giving them a better chance in life.

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The children had raised the money over the past year with various donations and fundraising events including raffles and garage sales.

The school’s head teacher, Ann Chalmers, said: “Father Simon was delighted to see such happy children and was really pleased with all their fundraising.

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“The children learned about life in the Congo and it had a real impact when they learned that some children don’t even have shoes to go to school in and that the average lifespan there is only about 40.”