A campaign to raise £5,000 to bring a young African woman to Derby, so she can train as a nurse, has been launched by the Derby Evening Telegraph.

The Bring Delia To Derby campaign has been launched on behalf of Delia Matewere, who's desire to become a nurse has been fuelled by a drive to help fellow Africans, many whom have the HIV virus.

Delia, from Malawi, spent a fairytale 12 months studying for her GCSEs at Mackworth College, Derby, in 1997 and 1998 after she raised the money to come to Britain.

But after completing three subjects, she was forced to return to Malawi for personal reasons.

Since then, she has desperately wanted to return but cannot afford to.

The college has agreed to waive the £3,600 fees needed for Delia to take the access to nursing programme. By completing it she would qualify for consideration for a three-year pre-registration nursing course.

All that now stands between Delia and a return to studying is her living costs, estimated at about £5,000.

College student guidance officer Zena French is behind the campaign to bring Delia and her skills back to this country. She has been writing to her for over 12 months.

"Delia is full of ambition for the future but is being thwarted by her circumstances. She sees death and decay around her in her home country but is unable to do anything to help," said Mrs French.

In her desperation to raise money to help Delia, Mrs French contacted the Derby Evening Telegraph, which is highlighting Delia's story.

"It's wonderful that the Evening Telegraph is offering to help in this way," said Mrs French.

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