Intrepid travel students from the West Midlands are jetting off to Goa to study the area’s tourist industry and provide food and care for orphans.

The level three travel and tourism students from Sandwell College, near Birmingham, will stay in the Indian resort for a week, and will spend a day at the Mango Tree orphanage, preparing food parcels to give out in poverty-stricken areas.

Travel lecturer Julie Greenway said: “The students will do the tourist thing to see how the industry works in practice, but then they will be experiencing another side to the resort when they help those less fortunate than themselves, which may be quite a culture shock.”

They will also take 25kg backpacks full of stationary and toiletries, donated by college staff and students, to give to children starting school as part of the Mango Tree’s Bags4School project.

Thomas Cook airlines has allowed the extra luggage to be transported for free.

The learners will get to experience some of Goa’s attractions, including elephant rides, visiting markets and beaches and cruising down the river.