Hi, my name is Elle Roberts, I am 16 years old and just completing my GCSE’s. Some of you may remember the trip to Holland that I was lucky enough to be selected for last year and following on from this I had such an amazing time that I’ve gotten the bug to help others.

What have I volunteered for now? Well, I am off to Kenya in July for 8 days to volunteer at the Chaddy Mission School, this is a school that has been set up by local people to give local children the chance of a better future. Altogether nine pupils from my school have been selected to take part in this once in a lifetime opportunity. The work we will be doing will include teaching the students English, reading with them, taking part in music classes, cooking and preparing food for the students and general maintenance and repair of the school buildings. I am over the moon to be given another opportunity to help others less fortunate than myself, this trip will be hard work, but also very rewarding.

As you know I am quite shy and lack confidence in myself, the charity project I was involved in last year really helped to build my confidence. This trip is massively taking me out of my comfort zone, but I know it will not only help the local community considerably, but it will also be a very important part of my own self development. As young adults in the UK I think we have things much easier than most of us realise and I expect this trip will be a real eye opener for me in terms of the hardships faced by many people living in countries and environments less fortunate that ours.

The trip has cost £1,650 and I have been busy fund raising myself, so far, I have raised £1,250 mostly through school charity events, car boot sales, cake sales and henna and face painting events. This is my final push to raise the remaining £400 and this is where I am hoping my friends and family can help me please by sponsoring me a small amount to help me help others and partake in this once in a life time opportunity.

I really cannot wait to go on this amazing adventure and thank you all so much for the support you have given me to allow me to achieve some of my dreams.

THANK YOU, love Elle xxx