Romes school children, teaching and non-teaching staff have been asked to contribute at least 1 a head to build at least four schools in the tsunami-devastated areas around the Indian Ocean. The citys mayor, Walter Veltroni and the head of the provincial government, Enrico Gasbarra, have circulated a fund-raising letter to all the schools in the city and the province of Rome, which open again on Monday 10 January at the end of the Christmas/New Year holidays. There are nearly 500,000 students in the province and city.

Money should be sent to account 006446, Banca Nazionale di Lavoro 6331 (ABI 01105, CAB 03237), Causi Marco ricostruzione scuole paesi sud-est asiatico.