A HARTING charity which helps to support more than 200 schoolchildren on the other side of the world has been praised by a visiting Indian official.

Linda Cartwright, of East Harting Street, established the Ted Foundation in 2007 to help provide vital funding to put children in the tsunami-ravaged Kerala region of India through school.

During a visit to the UK, members of the SNDP Union in Kerala attended a gathering of donors at The White Hart pub in South Harting to present Mrs Cartwright with an award in recognition of her efforts.

Talking about the work of her charity, Mrs Cartwright said: “The children’s life has changed since the tsunami. If the kids can’t get an education then the families have nothing. Sponsors give £30 a year and with that we provide every exercise book, every pen, pencil, every instrument, we get everything.”

Before the charity stepped in, there was a real shortage of books in the schools with no library facilities.

“Now they have a fully stocked reference library – half English and half Indian. It’s fantastic.”

After the 2004 tsunami the region received emergency aid from charities, however many families already living well below the poverty line had to fend for themselves.

The work of the foundation has led to increased support from the Government, which now provides broadband connection for computers bought by the charity, as well as free school uniforms.

They have also pledged that the sponsored children who achieve the academic standard required will be able to get a place at university, an achievement that could transform their lives.

Mrs Cartwright is preparing to visit India again next year to continue the work of the Ted Foundation thanks to new offers of sponsorship.

As she does so she is reminded of her late father, the charity’s namesake, who would tell her: “Always do some good for someone if you can, it really doesn’t matter what.”