A LAMERTON teenager is preparing to spend nearly three months in Nepal providing help and support to poor communities.

Reuben Noy Scott (pictured right), who attended Callington Community College but is currently taking a gap year, will be heading off on an 11-week volunteering trip in February and is busy fundraising for the charity organisation running the trip, Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO).

The former Lamerton Primary School pupil said he was inspired to undertake voluntary work in Nepal by his former headteacher at the primary school.

‘I was first inspired to volunteer by my previous primary school headmistress, who retired from teaching and began volunteering in Nepal and is still heavily associated with the voluntary work that goes on in Nepal,’ he said.

‘She is involved in helping to provide education in Nepal’s rural areas and was volunteering in Nepal in 2015 when the earthquake hit.’

Reuben said he applied to volunteer through International Citizenship Service (ICS) back in October and was referred to one of the organisation’s partners VSO.

He was invited to an application day in London where he got the chance to meet other applicants.

‘Days later, VSO offered me a placement in Nepal in one of their new communities. My programme theme is yet to be confirmed but the overall aim of VSO is to tackle poverty and marginalisation. I will find out what my specific programme theme is very soon hopefully.’

Reuben will set off for Nepal with his fellow volunteers on February 21 and will return in May.

He said: ‘In Nepal, I will work alongside local volunteers. I will be partnered up with a local volunteer and will stay with them and their family for the duration of my placement. I will eat the local food and become fully immersed in Nepalese culture — something I am really looking forward to as part of my motivation for volunteering is to broaden my knowledge of other cultures. However, my main reason for applying was to try and do something meaningful and positive.’

VSO covers all the expenses for its young volunteers, including Visas, flight costs and a living allowance. But Reuben wants to give something back to the charity and so is looking to raise £800 for VSO and other ICS partners.

He will be undertaking some fundraising events throughout January, including bag packing at a local supermarket, a sponsored run, car washing and dog walking.

Anyone who would like to contribute can support Reuben by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/reuben-noy-scott