Appeal to build school for Victoria

The parents of Victoria Climbié ¨ave appealed for help to build a primary school in her honour.

Five years after the eight-year-old was murdered by her great-aunt, her parents Francis and Berthe said their efforts to build the school in the Ivory Coast have helped them bear their loss.

The couple have raised ?65,000 of the ?100,000 needed and are now appealing to Londoners to help.

Victoria was sent to England for a decent education.

Most schools in the Ivory Coast are private and the nearest free school to the Climbi鳧 home, in the suburb of Abobo, is half a day's walk away.

"I must help other children not to go through what Victoria had to go through," said Mrs Climbié¬ 45.

"The Victoria Climbié entre of Excellence in Education will give them access to that basic need."

Charities, individuals and the British Government will subsidise the school's running costs. Victoria's case exposed huge flaws in Britain's child protection system and led to major reforms.