A SEVENTEEN-year-old Herefordshire girl is swapping her pens and paper for a rucksack as she jets off to South Africa next year.

Unable to determine where to go in her gap year, Rosie Brooks was browsing on-line when she came across Project Trust, an educational charity who send volunteers overseas for a period of 12 months.

The main aim of the trust is to provide young people with an opportunity to understand overseas communities for a certain length of time enabling them to appreciate the complete cycle of the seasons.

Working with youngsters has always been an appealing task to A-level student, Rosie, and caring for abandoned and HIV positive children in Africa appeared to be a worthwhile cause.

Rosie will look after children ranging from new born to eight years old and she will be involved with all aspects of care from hygiene and health care to pre-school and primary teaching.

The target for funds stands at £3,550 and Rosie has already organised a ceilidh with a local band at the Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School on November 23. Any help would be gratefully received in the form of not only cash donations, (although these are appreciated) but also in fund raising ideas or raffle and car boot items.

If anyone has any suggestions or donations please contact Rosie on 01432 264066 and tickets for the ceilidh are available from the Wallis Collection, Church Street, Hereford.