In January, I'm making a rather large new year's change, and moving to Ghana for a year with VSO. To help this amazing charity and to spread the word about their work I am trying to raise as much as I can this Christmas. Please give generously...£900 could send four street children in Dhaka to school and change their lives, a goal quite close to my heart.

While in Ghana I'll be working with a local organisation based in Takoradi, which is west of Accra, the capital, along the coast. Since oil fields have been discovered, tons of companies have set up shop, but the new-found wealth hasn't trickled down to everyone. Some traditional jobs like fishing have suffered from the new industry, and families are struggling to pay for food and school fees.

I'll be working with Western Region Coastal Foundation, a charity that works with the communities who've been affected by the new oil trade and industries.

After five years in London it's slightly daunting to be spreading my wings again, but I'm really excited to get a whole lot closer to the work I'm talking and writing about and learn from my new colleagues. I hope you'll support me and if anyone will be in West Africa in the next year, I'd love a visit! I'm still learning a lot about Ghana and the area, but I know there's warm weather and beaches in Takoradi (as well as malarial mosquitos...)

How your donation will make a difference

VSO is different from most organisations - instead of sending money or food, it brings people together to share skills and knowledge. In doing so, it creates lasting change. Volunteers share their skills and knowledge in communities around the world, which has a long lasting impact on fighting poverty.

The money you donate here won't go to me, or necessarily to my programme, but goes to help VSO's work in general. Here are some of the things you could help fund: