Shildon’s Nicola Stevens is one of a group of St John’s Sixth Form pupils heading for the adventure of a lifetime to Peru.
But it won’t be all play as the group of four teachers and around 25 students set off to take part in Project Peru. The Project describes itself as a “small, lively, totally voluntary UK-based charity offering food, clothes, shelter, education, health and fun to those who live in our children’s refuge in the desert shanty towns of Lima, and giving ongoing and practical support to those who live in extreme poverty in the local community.”
In total Nicola raised £2,000 to pay for the trip which was delayed from last July but due to the outbreak of zika virus in South America.
To raise funds for the trip she organised cake sales, a choir performance of Les Miserables at St John’s Church with a raffle, car boot sales, fayres, set up a gofundme page, plunged into the freezing North Sea in a Boxing Day Dip and also received many generous donations.
Friends, family, members of St Johns Church, Spectrum Roller Skating Club, the town council and the wider community have helped Nicola with fundraising.
“She had a mixture of emotions setting off on the adventure but can’t wait to experience life in Peru and help the people living there,” said her mam, Tracy Stevens.
The group, which will be arriving in their destination as The Crier goes to press, travelled from Bishop Auckland to London, flying from Heathrow to Colombia, then Colombia to the Peruvian capital, Lima, then a flight from Lima to Iquitos, a small town in Peru before finally travelling to Indiana, deep in the amazon rainforest, on the banks of the Amazon River.
The majority of their stay with involve plastering walls, laying floors and helping builders fit a roof. They have also taken crafts and will be helping children learn English, participate in sports and art.
“I am very proud of Nicola and thankful to the sixth form and staff for giving her such an amazing opportunity,” added Tracy.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
