About 80 people attended a high tea and silent auction at Warrnambool’s Temperance Hall on Saturday where about $2700 was raised in support of a mission to bring education to a remote village in North Sumatra.

In 2011, Alex Hutabarat donated some of his wages to employ two part-time teachers and raised enough money to build two classrooms at his former village.

Since then the cause has stayed close to his heart and later this month the Warrnambool chef will return to the village to build another classroom and a library.

Portland resident Ted Skewes and Warrnambool electrician Mathew Collins will join Mr Hutabarat on the project, each with a passion for overseas youth aid.

The trio hopes to raise $6000 before leaving, which will help them employ local builders and tradespeople, as well as buying stationery, supplies and books for the school.

Mr Hutabarat said learning to speak English would provide the best opportunities for the children’s future.

“I’ve experienced how they live with a lack of education,” the 31-year-old Mr Hutabarat said. “I was so lucky to come to Australia so I was thinking ‘why don’t I do something for my village?’

“I believe if they have a better education they can have a better future.

“We’re going to do another classroom about two kilometres from there and if we raise enough money we’ll turn it into a library for 50 or 60 kids to learn English, from eight to 14-years-old.”

He said more than $4000 had been raised so far through various events, but there was still an opportunity for the south-west community to contribute through a collection point at Town and Country Pizza at Gateway Plaza where Mr Hutabarat works.

“We have a sign ‘$1 for a brick’ and everyone who helps with our fund-raising will get their name on a plaque at the school,” he said.

“It’s very exciting. We have the chance to give children a better future.”