Cheryl signs up for volunteering adventure

The MidKent College student from Rainham signed up for a five-week scheme run through gap year agency KenyanAdventure.com when she attended a volunteering fair held at the college's Medway Campus last term. The overseas programme will see the former Rainham School for Girls pupil travelling to Africa to complete five weeks' voluntary work, starting in August 2010.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said the 17-year-old Media student. "I'll stay with a Kenyan family who I'll be helping with household errands during the evenings and my days will be spent teaching Maths and English to children studying at the local school. I'll also offer additional support to the community by coaching the local football team," she added. "It'll be a challenging and scary experience, but one that will hopefully be rewarding, both for me and the people I'm being given an opportunity to help."

Cheryl, who studies full-time at the college’s Medway Campus, had initially planned to complete some voluntary work a bit closer to home. “I was looking to get involved in local charity work, but something about the KenyanAdventure.com stand at the fair caught my eye. After chatting to a representative of the scheme I was sure it was the right thing for me to do, so I signed up as soon as I got home.

“One of the things that appealed to me most about the programme is that a significant proportion of the cost is fed directly into providing school meals for kids as well as funding building projects that will improve living standards and quality of life for people in the region.”

Cheryl has already raised £300 for the project with the help of her family and friends. “Now I’m looking to raise a further £2,000 through a mixture of sponsorship and donations,” said Cheryl. “I’m confident I can raise enough to get out there and make real contribution.”

If you would like to help support Cheryl in her venture, please email cheryl.wilkie@student.midkent.ac.uk . All donations and sponsorship offers will be appreciated, however small.