A BULFORD soldier is on a mission to raise £35,000 to build an IT suite for children in Ghana.

Sony Assuon, who has been in the Royal Signals for 10 years, runs educational charity the Assuon Foundation Trust.

Ghana-born Lance Corporal Nyame Ayeh Assuon – known as Sony – joined the army a decade ago barely able to read or write but has transformed his life. Now he hopes to help others in his home country to transform their lives.

Sony, who serves in the Royal Corps of Signals based at Bulford Camp, wants to build the IT suite in his home town of Nsuaem in the Wasa West district in the western region of Ghana.

"I have dedicated my time to educate myself through the army and I'm really proud of what I have done so far and really want to do something to help people back home," said Sony.

"My education was under a tree, we didn't have any classrooms and I didn't get an education until I came to this country."

His charity’s mission is to provide an information library or learning hub which would be used by 3,500 students in the area.

A piece of land has been secured for the construction of the Education Resource Project (ERC) in Nsuaem, Ghana. The ERC will be made up of a library and ICT suite.

The project is expected to start in March 2018 and to be completed within 18 months.

Sony received a commendation in the Queen's birthday honours list for his charity work.

Getting the It suite up and running would mean the world to Sony, as he explains: "My heart would be filled with joy because they badly need it. I want to improve the standard of education there."

To find out more and support Sony's fundraising efforts go to assuonfoundationtrust.org.uk.

Sony is looking for businesses to sponsor the campaign as well as donations of IT equipment to get the new suite up and running.