Hi there, and thanks for taking the time to visit my page!

In October 2014 I will volunteer for ten weeks on a development programme in Ghana. This is part of International Citizen Service (ICS), which brings young people together to fight poverty and make a difference. I will be working alongside volunteers from the UK and Ghana, on a project that will focus on health and hygiene awareness raising and livelihoods, helping to improve skills and employability in the local community. Honestly though, I have a feeling that I have a lot more to learn than to offer, and I am sure the experience very much will be a two-way street.

ICS only works with communities that have specifically requested their help, and it also aims to inspire young people in the UK and overseas to become active citizens who are passionate about long term community development. Having been sceptical about volunteering abroad for a long time, the ICS programme has managed to convince me that volunteering (hopefully) can be done in a sustainable, credible and ethical way.

In order to participate in ICS I need to raise £800 for Lattitude Global Volunteering which is one of the respected development charities that deliver ICS. ICS itself is a UK government-funded development programme, however, my fundraising will allow Lattitude to continue to bring positive change in the developing communities where they work.

So what will I be doing to support my fundraising?

• I will be taking the Live Below the Line challenge 8th-12th of September 2014, which aims to raise awareness of the widespread extreme poverty and hunger that still persist today. You can follow my experiences in my blog! 
• I have also signed up for a 6k mud obstacle course at Warrior Run on 5th October 2014 near Brighton. My hope is that if I can survive this, I will hopefully survive my placement too.
• Finally, I also have my eyes on organising a pub quiz here in London, will keep you posted!

Any contribution, no matter how small, will be highly appreciated! Thank you for your support!

Michelle