A WINCHESTER student is gearing up for an experience of a lifetime ahead of a charity trip to Africa.

Rachel Baines, 19, an English literature student at the University of Winchester, will go to Ghana on June 28 to complete several sustainable community projects.

On Sunday (March 30) she completed a four-hour bag pack in Sainsbury’s in Badger Farm to boost funds, and raised £87.30 towards the £1,000 needed, bringing her current total to approximately £600.

The trip, which is run in conjunction with charity Thrive Africa, will see Rachel fly to Accra, before travelling to both Kumasi in the south and Bolgatanga in the north to work on library building, disaster prevention, orphanage development and general welfare.

The second year student has said that although she is nervous, she is looking forward to the challenge ahead.

“Since beginning university I’ve been attempting to make the most of my opportunities, and whilst I feel academically I am doing as much as I can to enhance my future career, I believe the chance to contribute to the amenities of another country will be a truly rewarding experience,” she said.

“I have decided to challenge myself to go to Ghana because I believe it’s an experience that few people have in their lifetime, and the projects I will be working on will make a long-term positive impact.”

To sponsor Rachel go to thriveafrica.co.uk/fundraising-page/?id=437.