FIVE adventurous West Cheshire College students are set to embark on a life-changing 10-week trip to take part in community projects in Africa.
Childcare student Kate Titlow, 19, and public services student Amy Tatton, 20, are both from Chester and will spend 10 weeks in Othandweni, South Africa, after winning their place on the fully funded Platform2 volunteering scheme.
Travel and tourism student Rebecca Duff, 18, and Jess Stanley, 18, who is studying art and design, both from Chester, are heading off to Ghana for their volunteering work.
Health and social care student Kimberley Currie, 19, has a place at the University of Chester to study adult nursing when she returns from her work in South Africa.
She said: “There are a lot of organisations that arrange these types of volunteering trips but they cost around £4,000 each, so they’re out of the reach of most of us. It’s something I have always wanted to do so once I found out about Platform2 through the college I was determined to get a place.”
The five kind-hearted students will have to get back to basics during the trip as they stay in dormitory accommodation without the luxury of running hot and cold water, sharing communal facilities and washing clothes by hand.
By day the students will care or teach for children in orphanages and nurseries, develop play areas and gardens or help with the construction of community buildings like schools and toilets.
Once they’ve returned home the students will join a three-day residential course to discuss their experiences and what they’ve learned as well as develop ideas for how they can become ambassadors for the programme and plan fundraising activities to enable future students to take part.
College adviser Caroline Noakes, said: “This is a brilliant opportunity for all of them and I am proud of the commitment they are making.
“They’ve worked hard to win their places, I know they will work hard when they get there and they will come home with a new perspective and plenty of experience.”