Starting a new decade in your life is always a big deal! So here I am hitting the big 50 and looking forward to my challenges that lay ahead.

In early June, I have been given an opportunity to volunteer at a school in Africa where I will be able to offer support and resources to the children and their teachers.

I will be travelling to rural Zambia with a small group of teachers, a doctor and a health visitor as part of an ongoing project that started in 2012. Since first hearing about the grass roots project, co-run by a colleague, I have been eager to help. The prospect of actually visiting the school, to help develop teaching and learning, sounded a once in a lifetime chance.

The school was initially established to educate the children of local farm workers in an area where there were no schools. The school now provides free education and a daily hot nutritious meal for over 300 children from the surrounding area.

The charity I am volunteering with ensures 100% of public donations go to the school, so I need to raise the cost for the trip myself and would really appreciate your help to do so.

Part of the money raised will also help to provide the teaching resources needed to make the trip a success. Among other things, we wish to take a number of learning aids to assist with development of their maths skills.

If each of you feel you could contribute even £1 instead of buying me a birthday card for my 50th I would be extremely grateful with your help in making it possible for me to offer my time and experience to this worthwhile charity.

Thank you for taking the time to read this,

All my love

Debbie xxx