Out of Africa...

And she is hoping people in Worcestershire will help her by offering financial support.

Madeleine is planning to join the charity Humana People to People, which is run by The International Movement organisation, on one of their aid projects in the African country of Mozambique.

The charity is dedicated to providing services like training for agricultural and environmental projects as well as operating Teacher Training Colleges.

"I am really excited," said the 17-year-old, from Alexander Avenue. "I was nervous a couple of months ago, but now I really want to get out there.

Ambition

"It has always been an ambition of mine to help people."

Madeleine hopes to secure a place on the organisation's six-month training course in Hull, which begins in September.

There she will learn to speak Portuguese, the official language in Mozambique, and about Aids and HIV, before flying out to Africa in March 2004.

She is hoping people in Worcestershire can help her raise £2,500 for the cost of training and the time spent in Africa.

"I am hoping to do some teaching out there and I think I'll be involved in some building projects and talking to people about Aids and HIV," she added.

The decision to go to Africa came about when she saw an advert in a newspaper last Christmas offering people the chance to work in either Angola or Mozambique.

But with Angola being ravaged by civil war, she opted for Mozambique. She said her parents were nervous for her, but after speaking to people at the training centre in Hull, her parents' anxiety eased.

"They are really excited for me now," she said.

The teenager, who will complete her intermediate art and design course at Worcester College of Technology's Art and Design College in Barbourne this summer, is currently working at Davids Nurseries garden centre in Martin Hussingtree trying to raise the money.

Anyone who wishes to make a donation can send an e-mail to steven@earle1234.fsnet.co.uk