In 1989, Burley Middle School started a Recycling Project. As well as being of great environmental value collecting newspapers, cans etc, the money raised was given to many charities – including Christian Aid. Over ten years donations were given to help their work in many countries including well digging projects in the Dogon region of Mali.

In 1996 a boy called Zakari Saye was at the Catholic Mission School in Pel. He sent drawings to Christian Aid showing the wells being dug and also his village. Copies of these drawings were sent to Burley and youngsters from Burley Middle School replied with their own drawings. Zakari then started sending letters to Burley.

In 1998, Christian Aid sent details of a special project for the Millennium. ‘On the Line’ was the brainchild of Jon Snow. It is a simple idea which seeks to inspire all who live along the Meridian Line to discover more about the lives, countries and environments of their ‘neighbours’ on the line. The project aims to encourage people to explore their attitudes, beliefs and behaviour towards others living in countries along the Meridian Line and to consider the responsibility to one another and the planet we all share.

As the Meridian Line passes through Mali it was decided this would be a good opportunity for people in Burley to link with people in Zakari’s village Téréli (also spelt Tireli and Tirilli).

In December 2006 we became a registered charity – Burley-Téréli Friendship Trust.