A kind-hearted school community has donated 170 bras to a charity which could help transform poor women’s lives in Africa.

Pupils, staff and families of boarders at Haberdashers’ Monmouth School for Girls have united to support the Bra Bank initiative, inspired by Harts lingerie boutique in town.

The scheme, which also gives £700 to Cancer Research for every tonne of bras collected, could potentially save girls and women in third world countries from being sexually assaulted.

Dawn Philips, customer services and sales assistant at Harts, said: “In Africa, young girls and women don’t have the money or textiles to own bras. They are very vulnerable because apparently wearing a bra can give you status and a girl who is wearing a bra is less likely to be raped or sexually assaulted.

“It is so sad to think something so simple could provide protection from these sorts of awful events happening. That’s why we are asking for your old or unwanted bras; it not only raises money but it supports such a fantastic cause in third world countries – it’s a double whammy.”

Cancer Research is also a cause very close to Dawn’s heart.

She added: “We often fit mastectomy bras and have lots of customers whose shape has changed due to cancer treatment, so any time we can support them, we do. We recently did the Walk the Wye event too in aid of Cancer Research (HMSG Boarding also did this).”

Boarders at HMSG were proud to see their friends doing such a good deed.

Rachel, 14, said: “Being a young female who lives a life where I am respected, it is hard to imagine a life where women are scared to walk by themselves. I wanted to help them feel safer. Hopefully the donation will help do this.”

And Sereima, 17, added: “I hope that our donation will help women and young girls in Africa be able to walk the streets without the fear of being attacked and I am always happy to give my support to Breast Cancer and other women in the world. I feel very fortunate to be in a situation where I am able to offer help to other people. It’s important to remember how incredibly lucky we are compared to vast majority of the world.”