On December 19th, a big group of young people from Gumley House School in Isleworth and Gunnersbury School for Boys put off buying their families Christmas presents for a few hours and braved the cold to sing carols on Eden Street.

The cause was Street Child Africa (SCA), a Christian charity that does exactly what it says on the tin. The amazing people on the ground in the huge city slums and tiny villages help homeless children, often AIDS orphans, of all ages get food, shelter, clothing and an education to get them above the poverty line for good. As if that wasn't enough, SCA are often the only way these children can make their voices heard to the people who can change their conditions for good, in an environment that the children are comfortable with.

As for the event, it was one of many all over London and the UK organised at that time of year by the volunteers the charity relies on to awareness and funds. I heard about the event through an extra-curricular course at Gumley and signed up straight away, along with many of my like-minded peers. Despite the freezing temperatures, the event was a success and a significant amount of money was raised for SCA. Our repetoire ranged from traditional carols to more modern hits. The atmosphere was fantastic and everyone had a lot of fun, as the pictures illustrate better than me!