A HELICOPTER crew from RAF Benson helped bring smiles to children’s faces by sprucing up a Kenyan orphanage.

Members of 33 Squadron joined Army and Navy comrades to renovate the Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Education Centre orphanage and school in the Kenyan Rift Valley.

They later flew a Puma helicopter into the grounds and gave every child the chance to climb on board.

Families from the base had donated clothes and toys for the children, which were delivered by airmen.

Military personnel are currently in the African country on Operation Askari Thunder, supporting Army environmental training.

RAF Benson spokesman Nikki Hamilton said: “The personnel have seen the plight of the orphanage during their detachments in the area over the past few years.

“They have been working hard, both in Kenya and in the UK, to raise funds to purchase materials for renovations, which are being completed in phases.

“There was a lot of curiosity from the children, with faces peering through the windows at the amazement of seeing a paint roller, something they had never seen in action before.

“The older children, and a few little ones, also assisted the personnel and learnt some DIY skills along the way.

“Children sitting their exams in November were the first to use the now bright and freshly painted classrooms, which make a great difference to their working environment.”

Phase one of the project, which started in July, was to renovate two of the seven classrooms in the educational centre.

Before the work children had to study in dark classrooms exposed to the elements because there was no glass in the windows.

It took volunteers about two days per classroom to complete the work, which also included repairing and painting walls, floors, woodwork and blackboards.

Now personnel are carrying out more work, including putting doors on the toilet block, installing fire bricks to reinsulate the oven and welding metal frame bunk beds.

Ms Hamilton added: “All the work is undertaken through generosity alone, including the donation of funds to purchase materials.

“It also provides a boost to the local economy as all materials for the work are purchased locally.

“The project has been a truly joint effort, with Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, and British Army personnel of all trades being involved in both the fundraising and the renovation projects, and the children from the orphanage being so keen to join in and help at every opportunity.”