Ellie wants to help save turtles from poachers
A Maidstone girl has set out on an ambitious attempt to raise £2,500 in preparation for a trip to Malaysia with the charity World Challenge.
Ellie Osborn, 15, from Boughton Monchelsea, is planning the adventure to aid communities in the Perhentian Islands by helping to protect the turtle population by doing things such as patrolling beaches where turtles reside to halt the attacks of poachers.
Ellie, who is currently studying for her GCSEs, discovered the charity when representatives came into her school, Invicta Grammar, to talk about their work.
Subsequently, Ellie and her fellow pupil Yasmin Pewsey, also 15, took up the project because they wanted to help.
Ellie has already raised £100 in a short time by cleaning cars, baby-sitting and has started a part-time waitressing job.
The 14-day trip is planned for July 2016 and will start off with a five-day trek through the jungle. The pair will then spend the rest of the time helping to protect turtles from poachers.
The charity operates expeditions worldwide and is a leading provider of experiences which it said helped to promote team-work skills, help teenagers to gain confidence, become more globally aware and enhance their employment prospects.
The money raised goes partly to the charity and partly to meet the logistics of the trip such as the air fare.
Ellie said her school was encouraging the friends in their fundraising efforts and would allow them to do bakesales during school time.
The pair are also planning a girls’ night-in event for the whole year.