IN INDIA there is no public education system, and as a result many millions of children miss out on schooling, but thanks to the hard work done by a small group of Warwick residents, some lucky children are being given the chance.

In February, Rotary Club of Sunrise Warwick members Bruce Fanning, Doug Bryce, Narrelle Eather and Liz Heads traveled with Jane Loxton to Agra in India, home of the Taj Mahal, to take part in a huge school renovation project.

All members of Rotary, the group spent two weeks in India, along with members from Rotary Clubs in Taree, Gosford and Agra itself.

Mr Fanning said the Vishwa Bharti Rotary School had been built by Rotary Foundation six years earlier but was unfurnished and unfinished.

"These kids value their education so much that they head off to a concrete room every day and sit on the floor to learn," he said.

"It's just a basic structure, but that's their school and it means so much to them."

The combined Rotary groups pooled $10,000 together and applied for a district grant which doubled the money to $20,000.

From there they were able to apply for a Rotary global grant, which was successful, taking their total to $62,000.

"That amount of money can make a huge difference in India," Mr Fanning said.

"We spent our time tiling and painting and building desks for the children to sit at.

"There are 600 children at that school, and with better facilities, they could fit 1100 easily."

Mr Fanning said the idea was to make the school more comfortable and the education more accessible.

"There are over one million kids in that region alone missing out on schooling," he said.

"This is just one of many projects being undertaken by humanitarian and welfare organisations like Rotary."

Mr Fanning said his eyes were opened to the plight in India two years ago, when he visited the Agra region for National Polio Immunisation Day.

"I saw the difference we could make through Rotary," he said.

"I had to go back and help again.

"This job was such a feel-good thing to do - every day on the bus to the school, people would be waving and cheering.

"They truly appreciated the efforts and I can see it makes a huge difference to a community like that."

Mr Fanning said despite the cultures being worlds apart, the basic needs of the community were the same.

"They need what we need," he said.

"Security, health, education and the ability to care for their families.

"It's almost hard to express what it means to come back to such an orderly life here.

"What we take for granted is just so cherished there."