Ailsa’s set for Nepal adventure
Helping to improve lives
A kind spirited Blanefield woman is among a team of volunteers who will be working to improve education for young people in South Asia.
Ailsa Lindsay (23) will spend three months working alongside Nepalese volunteers to improve the quality of, and access to, education in the country.
The project is being run by international development organisation VSO as part of the UK aid funded International Citizen Service (ICS) programme.
And Ailsa, a former pupil at Balfron High, will immerse herself in the community there by living with a local host family in a bid to gain a better understanding of the challenges faced. She is set to leave home and embark on the adventure on March 24 and said: “I’m really looking forward to getting to Nepal and getting stuck in to my project.
“I’m working on an education project, so I’m hoping I can inspire young people to learn, grow and embrace their skills.
“I’m most excited about meeting the Nepalese volunteers we’ll be working alongside. It’ll be really interesting to find out what life is like for young people there.
“I’m looking forward to learning about a new culture and way of living.
“I’ve never volunteered overseas before, so this will be a completely new experience for me.”
ICS allows young people aged between 18 and 25 to contribute to sustainable development projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Ailsa, a trained holistic therapist, added: “I think it’s so important that young people get involved in projects like this.
“More than half the world’s population is under 25, so we’re the ones with the power to change things.
“No one should have to live in poverty any more, and I think that by giving their time young people can make a real difference.”
Before she leaves for Nepal Ailsa needs to raise £800 for VSO, which will help to make sure communities in developing countries continue to benefit from the work of future volunteers.
To date she has raised more than £500 and added: “I’ve held a bake sale, car boot sale and I’ve got more fundraising events planned. Everyone has been so amazingly generous, but there’s a little bit further to go.”
To help support Ailsa’s efforts go to justgiving. com/ailsalindsay.
No one should have to live in poverty