Axe Valley College student Kirsty Webber plans to work with street orphans in Cape Town

Shute teenager Kirsty Webber has taken on a major fund raising challenge so she can help less fortunate youngsters in South Africa.

The 18-year-old Axe Valley Community College student needs to find �4,500 to pay for her trip to work with street orphans and teach English as part of a Project Trust team next year.

Kirsty, who is studying for three A kevels, says taking the trip would fulfil her lifelong ambition – to travel and help others.

After investigating the options for volunteering, she said she chose Project Trust because it sends students, aged between 17 and 19, to countries that need the most support in areas such as education.

Kirsty won a place with the group after successfully completing a tough selection course on the Island of Coll in Scotland, in February.

She told The Herald: “This was a challenge by its self as I was the only person from Devon there and it was the first time I had travelled alone. It taught me a lot. I felt my confidence improved greatly as, throughout the week, I had to do many tasks from walking up hills, to numerous amounts of interviews and presentations, demonstrating my skills.

“I put my heart and soul into it, and it paid off as, two weeks later, I was offered a place as a volunteer to teach English to children in Cape Town, as well as work with orphans on the street.”

But to take up her lifetime opportunity Kristy is having to raise �4,500 by next January and she has organised a number of events to help reach her target.

These include a non-school uniform day in May, a series of cake sales, an auction of promises and a 12-hour dance off at The Kingfisher, in Colyton, on the Saturday, June 30.

Kirsty added: “I appreciate this is a lot of money but any donation I would be extremely grateful for.”

For more information contact Kirsty on 01297 552010, or send cheques made payable to Project Trust, to her at Ferndale, Shute, Axminster, Devon EX13 7QP.