Recently, Camps International, an incredible charity organization dedicated to helping developing communities around the world, came to my school seeking volunteers for a life-changing expedition to Peru, where we would be helping three communities over four weeks, in activities such as school building and well creation, culminating in an epic trek up one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu. Once there, we would be embarking on a mission to improve three elements of the country: communities, wildlife and the environment. Therefore, I signed up to begin my journey towards making the world a better place.

The trip will be in Summer 2019, which means I have a twenty-month challenge ahead of me to fundraise the cost of the expedition and resources to improve the communities. With your help, we can add to the 35,000 lives that Camps International have already helped, providing better sanitation and education to communities along with more opportunities for better healthcare and employment. You will also be helping ensure food and water security, environmental protection for an area that is devastated by greedy illegal loggers and essential wildlife conservation.

But why Peru? Peru is a country where 78% of the indigenous children live in poverty. A third of all rural children there suffer from chronic malnutrition. This forces many to resort to child labour, just to support their families. The sad reality is that it doesn’t take much to break the cycle of poverty and despair. One company, one school, one child like me could be the difference between a life of suffering and a life of happiness. That’s why I want to go, to be that difference.

Over the next twenty months, I’ll be fundraising in a variety of ways, such as film nights at school, car boot sales and sponsored events, both individual and with friends from Poole Grammar. Along the way, I’ll be updating this page with these events and photos, so you travel along with me on my journey. If you feel you’re able to support me, that would be amazing. Together we can be the crucial difference.

Isn’t that what life’s all about?