Victims of a devastating cyclone in Bangladesh have homes, education and a way of earning money thanks to the generosity of people in Wye.

Pupils at Wye Village School, villagers and the Bangladeshi community gave over £8,000 following cyclone Sidr which hit Bangladesh in November 2007, killing over 3,000 people and leaving thousands more homeless.

More than 300 people attended a special fund-raising event at Withersdane Hall, Wye in February 2008, including members of the Bangladeshi community who travelled from all over the country to Wye, the Acting Bangladeshi High Commissioner, Lord Sheikh; Ashford MP Damian Green MP and Ashford’s then Mayor, Cllr Rita Hawes.

Mahidur Rahman, who owns the Joshan of Wye restaurant, organised the evening and earlier this year he visited Bangladesh to see how the money had been spent and met youngsters at a school for street children who are being helped by the money.

Mr Rahman said: “I spoke to children who told me they were very happy to have an education and dreamed of being doctors and teachers and one wanted to be a pilot.

“I told them they could achieve it as long as they worked hard.”

As well as helping a school, money was spent on four simple houses for families made homeless by the cyclone, fishing nets, boats, sewing machines and computers.

Brian Roberts, one of several Wye villagers who organised the fund-raising event, said: “I don’t think you could find a better way to use the money raised.

“It just goes to show how much a relatively small amount of money can achieve.”