Hey! My name is Kirsten Alexander, I am 17 years old, and I live in a little town called Broughty Ferry.

Last summer I travelled to the Isle of Coll, to participate in a gap year selection course with the educational charity Project Trust. Project Trust was founded in 1967 and since then it has sent over 5,00 volunteers overseas, providing them with unique, life changing experiences. Project Trust givea young people the opportunity to learn about a wider community than that in which they have lived so far, in a country with a different culture to their own.

Well there has been a big change, instead of going to South Africa as previously thought, I am now going to Chile! I am based in San Josè de Maipo, a small town in the foothills of the Andes. My project has been initiated by an educational programme in the area what they term a 'project of social responsibility', therefore, I am going to be working as a teacher assistant in a local high school called Liceo Politécnico, and the Julieta Becerra Primary School, with the option of helping at other, more rural surrounding schools.

My main objective is to improve the spoken and written English of the young people living in the area. As I am only a teaching assistant, my main focus will be on the children who are struggling the most, and who need the most attention. I will also be involved in helping the class teacher arrange lesson plans, and activities for the young people.

As well as this educational work, I can also get heavily involved in the community, and organise acitivites and clubs for the local children.

However, before I set off on my adventure, I have the massive challenge to raise my £4,660 funds necessary to get me there! So far I have a few big events arranged such as a stovies dance (with a raffle of course!), a pub quiz (with more raffles!) and finally, my Mum and I have managed to convince 22 of our friends and family to do a sponsored hike up Ben Nevis!  In between all of these events, I will be doing many, many, MANY  cake stalls in my school!

Well a wee update on the fundraising is as follows;

My first cake stall at my school did very well...£50 in 10 mins! Many more of these to come!

On the 28th March, a stovies dance was organised by family friends, in a local town called Brechin. It was a great night, and everybody had a good time, cutting some shapes on the dance floor, to some 80's tunes! And most importantly, it raised the mighty amount of £870!

Also a big thankyou to all the trusts and organisations who have generously donated to my funds! And of course to all who have donated to me through this, fundraising could of been an awful lot more stressful without all your support!

If you would like to support my project, I would be very grateful! Any donation big or small, will make a great difference towards my funds! Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Project Trust gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

If you have any questions regarding my gap year please contact me on kirstenalexander@hotmail.co.uk.

WISH ME LUCK! xx