Many people never get the chance to step outside their comfort zone and mix with people and cultures on the other side of the world.

But four Year 11 students from Copthall School, in Pursley Road, Mill Hill, will have the chance to broaden their horizons on a three-week World Challenge project in Sri Lanka.

Alex Morris, Mollie Coakley, Lydia Heywood and Zoe Angus, all 16, will be leaving in July to spend three weeks working with a village school east of Kandy, on the edge of the Knuckles mountain range.

The school sits on a tea plantation, but receives no support from the plantation and very little from the government.

Accompanied by 11 pupils from two schools in West Yorkshire, the Copthall students will help the 130 children at the school, aged five to 16, provide a water supply for drinking and sanitation. Alongside this, they will be involved in turning a vacant piece of land recently acquired by the school into a sports ground for the whole community.

Assistant headteacher Gil Sumner, leading the expedition, said the project aims to challenge students' values.

She said: "I completely agree with the World Challenge ethos, which is to engage young people with things they are not normally associated with and to give them a chance to develop their social skills.

"They will get the chance to plan walks, lead expeditions and organise accommodation, so it will be great for their people skills, communication and teamwork. It will also be a physical challenge as we will be going to some places that don't even have running water.

"Overall, it will be a very good way to challenge their values outside of the classroom."

To pay for the expedition, each pupil had to raise £2,395, and Mrs Sumner said she had been impressed with their dedication to the cause.

She added: "The girls have really committed themselves to raising money for the trip. Some have taken a variety of weekend jobs, such as baby-sitting and bag-packing in supermarkets, others have arranged fundraising events such as selling raffle tickets and refreshments at school productions."

A World Challenge spokesman said the youngsters would have the chance to make a real impact in the area.

He added: "Many schools in Sri Lanka have extremely basic facilities and, coupled with the devastation following the tsunami in December 2004, there is plenty of scope for the students to really make a difference to schools and communities during their three-week expedition."

World Challenge president Tony Streather OBE, has lead expeditions up Haramosh and Everest and believes expeditions like these can be the catalyst in creating future leaders.

He said: "I will always remember the lessons I learnt as an adult in a foreign environment. These are the experiences that develop confidence and make leaders.

"Such is the strength of teamwork."

The Copthall team are looking for sponsorship and donations of educational equipment, such as pens, pencils, maps and wallcharts. If you can help, email Gil Sumner on g.sumner@easymail.copthall .barnet.sch.uk

* For more information about World Challenge, visit world-challenge.co.uk