Former Trinity School pupil Mia Nolan is hoping to head to west Africa in September to teach children aged three to 16 at the Future Academy school in the village of Chirapatre-Kumasi.

The 21-year-old said: "I'm so excited to go - it's going to be such an amazing and valuable experience.

"But I did not enjoy all the vaccinations I had to have!"

After meeting Future Academy's headteacher Joseph Donkor while he was visiting England last year, Miss Nolan decided she wanted to help improve his school, so she arranged for herself and two friends to spend three months providing assistance.

She said: "In Ghana they have a scheme similar to in America, where struggling pupils stay behind a year.

"Joseph feels he would like to introduce the English education system of supporting the struggling pupils."

Miss Nolan, who graduated from Liverpool John Moores University this year with a drama degree, has spent two summers volunteering as an assistant drama teacher at Trinity School, as well as working as a camp counsellor in Washington state in America.

She said: "It was amazing but this time I hope for a unique and more challenging experience.

"I'm hoping to be able to continue supporting Future Academy by organising for more volunteers to go over once a year and continue to fundraise for this cause."

Miss Nolan, who plans to start a teaching training course next year, needs to raise around £4,000 to go towards travel and vaccination costs, as well as resources needed for the school.

She is hoping to raise a significant sum by leading a two-day African dance workshop at Milverton Primary School on Monday and Tuesday.

Anyone who wishes to sponsor her should email be_mia@hotmail.com
To find out more about Future Academy, visit www.futureacademyghana.blogspot.com