Emily John has collected boxes of supplies

A nursery nurse will be the guest of honour at the official opening of an African children's centre she helped to fund.

Emily John, from Neath, is delighted the school in Gambia will bear her name.

The 23-year-old has spent the last three years fundraising to get enough money to build and equip it in the tiny village of Banjongkoto in Gambia.

Emily is flying out to the country next Friday on a six-month cultural exchange.

She cannot wait to see the two classrooms up and running but says it would not have been possible without the generous support of organisations and businesses in Neath.

It's unbelievable that after all these years it is up and running and I can't wait to see it Emily John

Emily first visited the community with friends from Penny Brook Methodist Church in 1999.

"The people there are just so friendly and they really make you feel welcome," she said.

"It is a tiny little village and they had just renovated their church.

"But the children had three or four miles to travel to the nearest school so they asked if I would help to build a nursery."

When she returned home she set about fund raising and she organised countless events to get the �3,000 needed.

Emily will be away for six months

Neath Rugby Club donated a signed shirt for an auction, local supermarket Safeway held an African- themed fun day and her mum, Lynette, wrote her own cook book to sell to friends.

Supplies of books, pencils and other materials are being shipped out - all due to the efforts of local schools and businesses.

"Everyone has just been so generous - especially the Methodist Church," added Emily.

The nursery will be used by between 20 and 30 children and two women from the village are being trained as teachers.

'Huge responsibility'

"Many of the children there did not go to school - it depended on whether their parents could afford it," Emily explained.

"It's unbelievable that after all these years it is up and running and I can't wait to see it."

On Friday, Emily said goodbye to the children at Bryn Catwg Nursery in Cadixton where she worked.

Lynette said she would miss her daughter while she was away but was very proud of her.