UNEMPLOYED young men from an Oxford estate are being sent to Kenya to help them become role models for local children.

Brothers Paul and Matthew Weller, from Aldrich Road, Cutteslowe, and pal Jake Franklin, 18, are being sent to build a fish farm in the Kenyan village of Mwaiki, in the hope they will come back with leadership skills and community spirit.

St Andrew’s Church, in Linton Road, North Oxford, and youth charity Catalyst Trust, which are behind the project, hope they will help deter younger children away from a life of drugs and crime. on their return.

They have been chosen for the trip because they are currently out of work and education and are judged at risk of offending.

St Andrew’s Church youth worker Jon Holder, who will be travelling with the group, said: “There are 12, 13 and 14-year-olds on the estate who look up to these guys. They have a lot of authority with young people.

“The best reason for going came in a quote from a boy who went out to Africa last year.

“He told met that every time he thought about going back to his gang, he remembered Kenya and did not do it.”

He added: “One lad from Cutteslowe I took last year is still absolutely buzzing about the experience.

“It has given him motivation, and made him start looking into going to college or university.”

Paul, who lost his job at BMW’s Cowley car plant earlier this year, said neither he or Matthew, 17, had been abroad before.

The 27-year-old said: “I want to see a different culture and help them out.

“I have been reading on the Internet about what it is going to be like.”

He added: “I’ve lived here for 25 years and some of the younger lads on the estate look up to me.

“There’s not a lot to do round here and some of them are making the same mistakes I did when I was younger.”

And Matthew, who left Oxford & Cherwell Valley College earlier this year, but has not found a job, added: “Kids of 14 on the estate are already getting into trouble and smoking weed.

“If they see there are other things to do it will help them out a lot.”

It is the third year Mr Holder has taken teenagers from Cutteslowe to the African village.

They will be in the village, on the outskirts of the town of Nakuru, for 10 days.

Last year, they helped build an orphanage for street children and dug a water borehole.