Buninyong Primary School's efforts are busy being tallied but they do know their line of coins, snaking around the indoor basketball court, would add up. Every bit of change, plus money raised from doughnut sales, will support Mphatso Children's Foundation in Malawi.

Siblings Tessa and Harvey had a heavy bucket almost filled with coins they had collected from a garage sale.

Buninyong school captain Matilda was impressed with the efforts from each class. Matilda said in the past the school had tins for people to donate into but this coin line had really inspired a big result.

"I think, especially for the younger kids, this is a way of feeling they can help people in need," Matilda said.

The Foundation, set up by long-time Buninyong resident Robyn Casey, predominantly runs nursery schools for pre-school aged children to be ready for starting primary school. One of the key projects is five cents to feed a child a bowl of porridge, which might be their only nutritious meal for the week.

CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW to meet Jack, who is cooking up porridge parties in Scotsburn

Buninyong teacher Jenny Bomitalli is preparing to venture to Malawi this month for the opening of the foundation's education training centre, named in honour of beloved Mount Clear College teacher and cricket leader Alan Parker.

The centre will formerly train Malawian teachers and offer the community an income from a space for international visitors to hire.

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