The Welsh Heritage Schools Initiative http://www.whsi.org.uk/ was launched in 1990. Its aim is to encourage young people in schools in Wales to take a greater interest in their heritage and the contribution made to it by their families and communities. The Initiative holds an annual competition for heritage projects in schools in Wales. Maerdy Infant School won the People's Collection Wales infant schools award with a project called Long Ago and Far Away. The news that the school is to be amalgamated with the Junior school sparked the investigation into the history of the school over the past 100 years before it loses it's identity as an Infant school. At present the school is part of the Comenius project which links children together across Europe to share each others past and present and so the history project became an obvious one. Combining the past insular life of the school with the current status as a Comenius school 'Long Ago and Far Away', the whole school was involved in the research at a level matching their year group. The whole community became involved and contributed their research into the past. A local historian and author discussed his book 'Maerdy School Days' with the children. Parents, grandparents and great grandparents visited school to talk about their school days. School days were the obvious choice for the children and they researched fashions, wartime and songs through the ages and found out how times had changed. The local librarian brought in old newspapers and photographs which capture the children's' interests. Their links with Turkey and Germany gave them an insight into how other people live. They heard about the past, the traditions of these countries and shared their Welsh Heritage with them through song, dance and stories. Teachers have exchanged visits with their linked schools and brought a new dimension to their learning. The Early year pupils celebrated the heritage of Maerdy and Wales by looking at National landmarks. The children presented the whole of their research through a lively drama, song and dance programme to parents, local residents and the judges. Even a group of grandparents performed a 'rap' on their early years in the school. The presentation was followed by a food tasting of various culinary delights from Wales, Germany and Turkey. Through this project the past has come alive for the children. This school is very much part of the local community and it is hoped that this link will continue.