A 17-YEAR-OLD from Kirriemuir is fund-raising so she can embark on the trip of a lifetime to teach English in Sri Lanka.

Websters High pupil Andrea London is hoping to raise £4000 for the six-month expedition she embarks on at the end of August.

The trip, organised through the Link Overseas Exchange scheme, will see Andrea travel to the central town of Kandy, where she will teach over 300 students English at the local college.

She will then get the opportunity to teach in another country, possibly India, for the last month and a half of her time away.

She said, “About a year ago one of the members from Link came to Websters High School.

“I was too young to apply at the time but as soon as I turned 17 I sent my application away.

“I see this as an opportunity to do something different.

“Most people seem to just spend sixth year drinking cups of tea in the common room.

“I have always wanted to travel and this is an opportunity to see a completely different way of life.

“I will be teaching English to 310 students at Mowbray College and I’ll also be teaching music and drama, as these are good ways for the children to learn language.”

Andrea has crossed the £1000 mark in her quest through a variety of events.

Almost £600 was raised through a coffee morning in St Andrew’s Church Hall last weekend and £300 at her school through a ‘dress as you please’ day, and Andrea has several other fund-raising activities planned.

This will include a stall at Kirrie Show and a sponsored fast for two days.

But although she is spending six months out of the country, Andrea will continue to be a pupil at Websters, spending part of her time abroad studying for her Advanced Higher statistics course.