ORPHANS in Malawi are getting the chance to have a better life thanks to the dedication of a York couple.

David Grainger and Helen Salter founded a York-based charity after living in Malawi and witnessing the plight of young people who could not afford the state-run education.

In Malawi, secondary education is not free, making it difficult for many children to attend school.

Determined to help the orphans pave their own path in life, the couple decided set up MOSES (Malawian Orphans Sponsored Education Scheme), which financially supports impoverished children's' school costs.

The couple campaign for sponsors to pay £7.50-a-month to send an orphan to school and the money raised is sent to a trustee in Malawi who liaises with the schools.

MOSES was set up by Ms Salter and Mr Grainger when they lived in Malawi in 2003 while he was head of physics at an international school.

"We saw the disparity between the school in which I was teaching and the lack of facilities in the education the local Malawians received and had to help," said Mr Grainger.

They returned to England when Ms Salter was pregnant and now run MOSES from Ratcliffe Street, in York.

To help raise the charity's profile, the couple are holding a MOSES presentation at 12.30pm, on Saturday, February 9, to enable people to hear about the work the charity does and to help raise funds.

The event will be at The Independent pub, Lowther Street, York. For more information, phone 0844 4142302.