Clean water for the world's poor - children's plea

A poignant plea for the world's poor to have clean water has won nine-year-old Becky Moreland a trophy.

Becky took part in a public speaking competition held at Windsor's Guildhall on Friday.

A trio of Catholic primary schools from the Royal Borough went head to head at the final of the competition, organised by the aid agency CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development). They were St Edward's Royal Free, Parsonage Lane, Windsor and two Maidenhead schools - St Edmund Campion, Altwood Road and St Mary's, Cookham Road.

Teachers, parents and pupils watched as pupils passionately put their case.

In the end the trophy went to Becky Moreland, nine, from St Mary’s.

Competition organiser and CAFOD Education Volunteer for the area, Sharon Westby said that children who took part had spent weeks learning about the agency's work.

She said: “It was clear from all the talks that the pupils have been learning about what kind of affect a lack of clean water has on people’s livelihoods, education and health.

“Several finalists referred to CAFOD’s current ‘thirst for change’ campaign which asks David Cameron to call on world leaders to take action on water and sanitation at the G8 summit this year.

“All the pupils’ talks were amazing - stimulating, thought provoking and inspirational."