My name is Ellis, I have been lucky enough to be offered a place as a volunteer in Malawi. Leaving on April the 30th. I need to raise £800 before the 2nd of April to enable me to spend 3 months to encourage young people to stay in education and help spread the message of sexual health and contraception. The money that is raised will not go towards my accomidation or flights, it goes back to ICS to help them to continue running community development projects overseas.

Malawi‘s population is suffering with 50% of the 16.5 million people falling below the poverty line. This impacts massively on the future of their children, with many teenagers dropping out of school to have a job at the age of 15. The literacy rate for the whole population over 15 is 62.7% and a literacy rate of 49.8% for the whole female population over 15.

Malawi remains one of the largest HIV/ AIDS killing zones in the world. With a sixth of the population living with HIV/ AIDS. Young people are at most risk due to early sexual activity and marriage, with 50% of HIV infections affecting 15-17 year olds.

International Citizen Service (ICS) is a once-in-a-lifetime, UK government-funded programme providing volunteer placements to 18-25 year olds.

It's a development programme that brings together young people from the UK and developing countries to volunteer in some of the poorest communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

UK volunteers work side-by-side with local volunteers in developing countries, staying with host families in the local community.

If you can help that would be absolutely amazing and every penny helps. Thank you

For more information on this program visit their website.

http://www.volunteerics.org