THE giraffes at Marwell Zoo are used to visitors, but a visit by a group from South Africa needed them to be given two months of special preparation.

A tape recording of the Moods of Africa choir from Langa, Cape Town, was played to the giraffes each day so that they were familiar with the music before the choir launched their UK tour at the zoo.

Ironically, for most of the young choristers, their visit to the British zoo provided them with their first sight of a giraffe.

To date, their lives have been confined to the poverty-stricken townships of their homeland. The choir aim to raise funds for a new sports hall for Kulani High School and for much-needed text schoolbooks.

Southampton-based charity Hope Now organised the tour, which so far, has included visits to Winchester Prison, Romsey URC and Above Bar Church, Southampton.

Before the tour, South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki was reported in the country's national press as saying: "The problem of the two South Africas is that on the one hand we have extreme wealth and privilege, while on the other, we are faced with abject poverty and terrible deprivation. This is leading to the de-humanisation of millions of people."

When Vic Jackopson, founder of Hope Now visited the school in Langa at the beginning of 1999 he discovered they had no books in the school library or classrooms.

Through the tour and by donations, his charity aims to raise £250,000 for books and a sports hall.

If you can help, call Hope Now on 01703 769 635.

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