A WESTBURY volunteer will be travelling to Nicaragua this month, where she will spend 10 weeks helping the local community.
21-year-old Josie Scott, who currently volunteers at the Sue Ryder shop in the High Street, hopes the trip will be just the start of a career in the charity sector.
Josie, who graduated with a degree in philosophy and psychology last year, was selected by the International Citizen’s Service, a government scheme that enables 18-22 year olds to work as volunteers in the poorest parts of the world. As part of the initiative, she will be working on sustainable development projects in Nicaragua with Raleigh International.
Josie explained, “What I’ll be doing could range from building wells and schools to various health projects. It’s working with local volunteers and is about integrating with the community.
“When I come back, I will do a community project and I’m hoping to do something with young people to encourage them to get more active in the community. It’s very hard for them at the moment and people are often really negative about what it’s possible for them to do.
“I really do want to spend my life working in the charity sector and hopefully have a massive impact in a positive way.”
Josie is organising a series of fundraising ventures in the run up to her trip. She said, “I’m obviously really, really excited about it, but a big part is fundraising before we go. There are three major things I’m doing. One is going up Mt Snowdon on the 2nd June. I’m giving up alcohol for 100 days – including for my 22nd birthday! I’m also collecting one and two pence coins.”
You can sponsor Josie’s challenges at www.justgiving.com/Josephine-Scott0 (giving up alcohol) or www.justgiving.com/Josephine-Scott1 (Mt Snowdon). If you have any coins to donate, there are collection boxes in Bath Bakery and The Clean Machine in the High Street.
