A STUDENT is preparing for an African adventure where she will help impoverished communities.

Vanessa Shelton, 22, who has just finished her A-levels at Cirencester College, has been selected to volunteer in Tanzania next month with international development charity Raleigh International.

She will be working with communities helping to build water supplies, supporting youngsters and raise awareness about the importance of hygiene and waste disposal.

Two thirds of citizens in Tanzania live without adequate access to safe water and sanitation.

“I have always wanted to go out into different parts of the world and do something to help,” said Vanessa, from Stroud.

“I will be helping out as part of a team on projects to help provide water aid and sanitation.

“It is an amazing opportunity and I am really looking forward to the experience.

“We hope that the work we do whilst out there will not have only a short term effect whilst we are there but also a long term effect .

“Those we are working with can hopefully pass down the knowledge to further generations so that the country can slowly but surely move towards a safer and cleaner future.”

Vanessa needs to raise £800 by September 9 as part of the challenge and has already taken part in a six kilometre mud run and held a bucket collection at Stroud Fringe Festival.

More than £400 has been raised on a JustGiving page which she set up.

She is holding a raffle at The Retreat on Wednesday, September 7, starting at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £1 and can be bought from the pub in Church Street.

She will then head out to Tanzania from September 22 to December 12.

“The work I will be doing out there will help as it will be providing people with clean water and sanitation,” added Vanessa, who is taking a year out from studies before deciding her next step.

“It is something we look at as normal that they do not have.

“We will be educating them about the importance of hygiene and waste disposal, so that their environments can improve and certain dieses can be prevented."

Raleigh works with communities who have specifically requested for their help.

To support Vanessa visit her JustGiving page at bit.ly/2bld39n