Telford Lettings Manager Volunteers for Three Months In Uganda

Our Telford lettings manager is leaving her home comforts behind and jetting off to Africa to work with some of the poorest people in the world.

Zoe Bakehouse has secured a place with the International Citizen Service to volunteer for three months in Uganda.

She will be with an organisation called Restless Development, which supports communities in Africa to help educate young people so they can work their way out of poverty.

The two main aims of the project are to raise awareness among young people about HIV, AIDS and sexual health, and to address youth unemployment.

It will be a world away from Zoe’s nine to five job of helping people rent houses in Telford, and the 24-year-old said she was relishing the challenge.

“It’s something I have always wanted to do,” Zoe said. “I have been out to Africa before to help build homes and it changes your perspective on life for sure. Since then I have been keen to go out again to help in any way I can, and I am really pleased to have a got a place with the International Citizen Service.

“It’s a project specifically for young people to work with similar-aged volunteers from Uganda to help them make a positive change for their country, which is an amazing opportunity.”

Zoe is due to fly out in April and is busy organising fundraising events to raise £800 in sponsorship to help support the project.

She added: “The money raised goes directly to the Restless Development organisation to allow them to continue their vital work - it’s not to pay for our flights or accommodation, which is funded by the Government.

“Everyone at Nock Deighton has been really supportive and are rallying around to donate money, which I’m massively grateful for. I am organising everything from cake sales to pub quizzes and would like to say a big thank you to everyone for their help.”

A pub quiz is taking place at The Bridge Inn, in Newport, on March 22 at 7.30pm for £2 per person, with all proceeds going to Zoe’s fundraising efforts.

For more information and to make a donation, go to www.justgiving.com/zoe-bakehouse

Good luck Zoe!