Five Ryedale Live! musicians will set off from North Yorkshire to Tanzania next week to run a programme of music, singing and movement workshops in two primary schools.

David Swann, Sarah Dean, Paula Ryan, Rachel Reynolds and Rob Davies will meet up with Cambridge musicians Brooke and Jo Williams at Gatwick airport on Thursday for their two-week African project.

Their work will involve teaching the children traditional English songs, as well as helping them create new songs based around their school, home and family experiences, all culminating in a “music festival” when both schools will showcase their work in front of an audience of parents and dignitaries.

The project has been developed by Ryedale Live! founder Rob Davies through the volunteer placement charity FutureSense Foundation, following his visit to the area last October.

As well as scaling Mount Kilimanjaro, Rob spent three days renovating school classrooms in Moshi.

“There were 800 children in the school and they were so excited to see us there,” he says.

“I came home with videos of them singing and dancing for us and a friend suggested how brilliant it would be to take our music out to them. We discussed the idea with FutureSense and they’ve helped us put the programme together.”

One member of the travelling party, folk singer David Swann, can call on his experience as headmaster of Rillington Primary School, near Malton.

“This is an unbelievable adventure for me as it’s my first trip to Africa and I’m behaving just like an excited child,” he says.

“During my time at the schools, I intend to forge permanent links with my own school back home, so pupils can write to each other and share experiences from different cultures.”

The musicians also intend to make connections with the local music scene during their stay in Moshi and are hoping not only to experience Tanzanian music but also to put on one or two concerts.

“One definite highlight of our journey out there, which will take us via Dubai and Nairobi, will be our concert to diners around the swimming pool at the Holiday Inn… in return for a free bed for the night,” says Rob.