My name is Oliver Gridley and I am 14 years old. I go to Sybil Andrews Academy in Bury St Edmunds. I have recently signed up for a brilliant opportunity with Camps International. It is to go to Borneo for four weeks in the Summer of 2019 to take part in project work for the local community. We will be helping those in the community by being volunteers and help to change the lives of the people we are working with. The projects would include, things like helping with education, community, healthcare, and building work to help the people.

The core objectives are:

• Live in a rural community and work on important social and cultural projects to improve the lives of local people;

• Work on important forest regeneration projects;

• Acquire and enhance key life skills that will assist them in their transition towards further education, training or employment

So we will help with a community project, visit the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary where they help orphaned and injured orangutans then we can relax (but only for one week!).

I really wanted to do this so I can help others, I know that I have a lot to be thankful for when some people have nothing. I think this is a great opportunity to have on my CV and is something I can tell people about for years to come, like my grandchildren. It also gives me 50 UCAS points which boosts my chances of furthering my education. When I am older I would like to be a Graphic Designer, there are lots of good ways to go about this but I know that the points would help me to get to University and that is my real goal!

I am hard working and I always do all of my homework as I know how difficult it is to get a job.

I know that this experience will make me more confident and I am really looking forward to the challenges on this trip, I know it will be very hard work but I am prepared for this as I know that a month to me is nothing when some people have very little in terms of living standards.

To show that I am very much wanting to do this trip, I have paid the £435 deposit out of my own savings from birthdays and Christmases over the years. This is to show that I really want to go as I had to convince my Mum and Dad that I can do this as they thought it was a lot of money. I think that my family will be able to provide a bit of the money, but they can’t afford all of it. So I am asking whether you could please sponsor me in this great opportunity to help others. In total I have to raise £4,350 which is a lot of money! - I have managed to raise some of the funds so far through my paper round and through various fund raising activities, I have just £500 left to get me to the total!

Thank you in advance for your help and support!

Oli :)