Sidmouth sixth-former gears up for Ghana adventure
Sarah Hunt is pictured selling cakes at the St John hall to help fund her trip next summer when she will spend 12 months teaching English, science and maths in the Volta region of Ghana. Ref shs 8968-42-14SH Picture: Simon Horn - Credit: Archant
A Sidmouth College sixth-former is preparing to leave all mod-cons behind to spend a gap year teaching disadvantaged children in Africa.
Sarah Hunt, 17, is juggling her A-level studies with fundraising to reach the £5,900 needed to take up the role at a remote school in Ghana.
“I am looking forward to being completely out of my comfort zone, in a completely new situation and meeting new people,” said Sarah ahead of her trip.
Now, when she is not studying for exams in maths, further maths, physics and biology, Sarah is busy baking treats to sell and collecting sponsors for an impending skydive.
“My whole family are chipping in to help,” she said.
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The student has no teaching experience, but was selected via a rigorous four-day selection course, in which she had to give a ten-minute lesson and a presentation.
Sarah says she is prepared for a culture shock, as she will be posted with one other volunteer somewhere in the Volta region of Ghana, with no running water.
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“I am most nervous about the actual teaching because I want to do a good job,” she said.
“It will be difficult at first, having no mod-cons, phone signal, or Wi-Fi, but I will get used to it.”
Sarah is full of fundraising ideas to finance her trip, including a sponsored race night and a Ghanaian-themed dinner.
Sidmouth College’s head of sixth form, Sue Hurley, said: “From our point of view, this is a really good, innovative project.
“Because of financial restraints of going to university, people are working, rather than taking a year out.”
Each participant on the trip, organised by Project Trust, is awarded with a qualification.
Sarah is appealing to any people or businesses in Sidmouth who can offer her support.
Visit www.virginmoneygiving.comghana2015 to donate, or to find out more, view Sarah’s blog at ptghana2015.blogspot.co.uk.
