AN 18 year old student from Otley will fly to Tanzania this Spring to help children there learn English.

Former St Mary's, Menston pupil Alex Simpson, currently on a gap year before going to university, has been selected for the trip by the International Citizen Service (ICS).

The ICS programme aims to give 18 to 25 year olds a chance to work side-by-side with local volunteers in developing countries to assist in the fight against poverty.

Alex will be spending 12 weeks in Lindi, staying with a host family, as he teaches English to children in the coastal town and helps out in any other way he can.

He said: "This will be my first time in Africa, my first time out of Europe actually, so I'm really looking forward to it.

"I can't wait."

Alex will head out to Africa on April 18, but first he has to get no fewer than 15 vaccinations.

He has also set himself a fundraising target of £800 which will help Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), which leads ICS, continue its work around the world.

The UK Government's Department for International Development funds 90 per cent of the ICS programme, while the other ten per cent is raised by volunteers.

On his JustGiving webpage, he explains: "I'll be working with volunteers from Tanzania on VSO's programme that aims to create secure livelihoods, strengthening the ability of poor and marginalised people to improve their livelihoods

and assets and overcome the constraints that make people poor."

His fundraising total already stands at £335, boosted by a sponsored half-marathon he completed.

He is hoping to add to that through a coffee morning that will be held at Clitheroe House, on Manor Square, Otley, on Friday, March 18.

Alex, who will study geography and economics at university, is currently working for Waitrose in Otley - where a fundraising bag-pack is also to take place.

Visit justgiving.com/Alex-Simpson18/ to sponsor Alex.

Log-on to vsointernational.org/ for more details about VSO's work.

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