Ranchi: A group of Santas have come all the way from Belgium to spread happiness among the slumkids of capital.

As many as 24 Belgian Class XI and XII students - 15 girls and nine boys - along with four teachers from Klein Seminarie school in Roeselare, are in the state capital to make friends with their counterparts in St Xavier's School, Doranda, as well as to take part in the school's outreach programmes for underprivileged children in slums.

Dressed in red T-shirts and blue jeans, the teenagers visited St Xavier's School on Saturday where they distributed 260 sets of school uniforms, along with shoes and socks, 50 cycles and cash money.

The group has been travelling across India for the last three weeks and landed in Ranchi on December 27.

"We spent over 10 days in Jharkhand and visited several places like Kishorenagar and Gumla where the students even lived with the local families for a few days," said Filip Vandevelde, a teacher leading the team.

The slumkids also gave a warm welcome to their Santas by singing and dancing to Christmas carols.

When asked why they chose to visit the slumkids of Ranch, Astrid Luttun, a Class XII student said, "Do you Father Constant Lievens. He was an acclaimed Jesuit missionary from Belgium who studied in this school and also worked with Chotanagpur tribes. He even contributed towards spreading Christianity in the region."

The students also said they bought the gifts for the slumkids from their pocket money.

"I sold ice-cream and cookies and bought the gifts from my earnings," said Jonas Maectens, a Class XI student.

While all the 260 children received school uniforms, cycles were gifted to only 50 boys and girls who scored well in their exams. "Hopefully this will encourage you'll to study sincerely and perform well in examinations so that you'll can also get such gifts in future," said Father Ajit Xess, principal of St Xavier's School.

The Belgian students also shared their experiences of staying in villages. "I stayed with a family in a small village in Gumla where they was no electricity or water supply. I somehow wish a hand pump is installed so that the crisis is resolved," said Silke Desmel, a Class XII student.

"It's true that they have less resources but they surely know how to be happy with what they have, unlike people in the West," said Laura Debie, the only lady teacher accompanying the students.