Welcome to Ben Warner's fund-raising page. Thank you for taking the time to read what this is all about.

In 2006/2007, I'll be spending 12 months in Guyana, teaching science and maths to GCSE (Standard) level, in government secondary schools which have a serious lack of qualified teachers. This will be through the gap year organisation Project Trust, having attended a selection course last August.

Project Trust is a small charity organisation based on the remote Hebridean Isle of Coll, where they hold their comprehensive selection and training courses. They have been sending volunteers abroad for over 30 years, with their emphasis on the volunteers being immersed in a foreign country and culture for a whole year, in order to learn about and contribute to the community in which their project is based, without taking work from local people. Project Trust are registered as a Charity in Scotland, No. SCO25668. You can find out more about them, in much greater depth, at www.projecttrust.org.uk

The project I'll be working with will either be in the capital of Guyana (Georgetown), with its fascinating ethnic and cultural mix, or deep in the remote interior, surrounded by rainforest and water. Either way, I'll be teaching in schools (with basic facilites) of around 400, teaching classes of approximately 30. Having studied sciences and maths to A-level, it'll be a quick hop over to the other side of the fence to take up the role of teacher, something I'm very much looking forward to, if not slightly nervously. I also hope to be involved in extra-curricular activities at the school at which I'm based, and in other projects within the community. Living in Guyana - an almost untouched country unlike any environment I am used to - will also be a unique and exciting experience, as well as a vital chance to gain self-dependence and confidence before university.

Of course, actually going there is still a year away: in order to do so, we (the volunteers) each first have to raise the funds to send us (and keep us!) out there. This amounts to just under £4000. On top of this, Project Trust raises £500 for every volunteer they send abroad. Raising this money for the year abroad is a daunting task. Any support you can give will be greatly appreciated: no donation is too small. If you would like to donate towards this sum, please follow the link below.

All donors will receive a quarterly newsletter which I will produce while in Guyana, explaining how their support has been spent, while regular updates will also be available at my gap year web-log, which I will be updating with information throughout this year regarding fund-raising, and the following year, while in Guyana, charting my experiences out there: http://www.gappinginguyana.blogspot.com/

 Alternatively, if you would just like to find out more about what I'm doing or have any advice you wish to give me (as valuable as any donation), please feel free to email me at bejw_88@yahoo.co.uk.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Project Trust will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you. Many thanks for your time and support, in whatever form. -- Ben