Rickinghall student ready to test teaching skills in India

Next month student Lorraine Meekings, from Rickinghall, will travel to India to work with children.

The 20-year-old, who is studying early years at the Colchester Institute, will spend three weeks in Goa with 20 other students, where they will teach in a nursery.

The aspiring teacher, who has never travelled outside of Europe, said: 'We'll spend the mornings working in the nursery to help improve the learning environment and we will also be taking over resources like notebooks and pencils to give out.

'We're also visiting a HIV hospice, a special needs school, where we'll take toys, and a slum. It's going to be completely different to anything I've done before.'

Miss Meekings has funded the £900 trip herself and has so far raised £400 to take out to India to present to charities.

She said: 'I've held car boot sales and will be hosting a pamper night and bake sale later this month. I hope to get up to raise £600 before I go and hopefully the money I give to the charities will help change people's lives.'

The youngster, who studies two days a week and works a placement at Thornham Primary School, said she is looking forward to the experience and recounting her time in India to the pupils she works with.

She said: 'It will be interesting to see how different it is over there and how we can help them.

'I really love working at Thornham and it has really made me want to go into teaching. I've told the children all about my trip to India and they are interested in the culture and animals. It will be nice for them to hear about the different cultures.'

If you would like to donate money for Miss Meekings to give to charities or supplies for her to take to India, email guitarlam@hotmail.co.uk