My name is Rosie McGinnigle and I was fortunate enough to be chosen as one of the pupils from St Margaret's Academy who will be going to Malawi in 2019! To make this trip possible I have to raise £2300.

Malawi is described as 'the warm heart of Africa', a country of rich culture and beautiful scenery, yet the reality is that Malawi remains one of the poorest countries in the world. It is a country where the basic essentials which we take for granted, are not guaranteed, such as clean water, sanitation and education.

As part of this volunteer group I will assist in the building of a classroom and have the opportunity to help teach, interact and play with the children from this community. I believe volunteering reinforces that people have the same hopes and dreams despite their differences. It's not about feeling pity for this country but about admiring their desire to survive, learn and become self-sufficient.

This will be a life-changing experience for me. It will almost certainly be emotionally and physically challenging but I am enthusiastic and hardworking and believe I will make a positive contribution to this trip!

Finally, thanks for taking the time to read my story and many thanks for any donation!

Rosie x