A TRAILBLAZING teenager from Droitwich Spa has dozens of amazing stories to share after an unforgettable expedition in Africa.

Continent-hopping Vivien Searle is back from Ghana after three months camping under the stars.

The 19-year-old Moreland Road resident travelled with Raleigh International, the group Prince William recently visited Chile with.

Around 100 young people joined Vivien in Ghana.

The trip comprised three phases - environmental, community and adventure.

The former Droitwich Spa High School pupil's community project involved working with Sightsavers International.

The charity screens more than 400 patients a day for a regional survey to discover the prevalence of cataracts and glaucoma.

Vivien said: "This was really interesting, especially when we screened children who attempted to read the charts while covering both their eyes with their hands."

The young explorers were asked to teach in a school and in their spare time they managed to paint two bungalows and a colourful mural on a children's hospital ward.

The adventure phase involved trekking across Mole National Park.

At night, the travellers camped in villages, usually on the football pitch.

Their daily diet was porridge for breakfast, crackers and cheese for lunch and rice or pasta for tea, supplemented with bread and exotic fruits.

Vivien spent days carrying her hefty rucksack although she confessed to hitching a few lifts on passing tractors.

Her goal was to reach the Polzen falls.

Vivien and her new friends are only the third European group to reach the remote site.

Six days were spent canoeing on the world's largest man-made lake - Lake Volta.

For the environmental project, Vivien was sent to the Ankasa Rainforest, where the team of students completed the construction of a tourist centre.

Vivien said: "I never imagined I would be mixing concrete but I have pictures to prove it.

"I took on the role as tool master which meant I was responsible for the equipment.

"I wasn't sure if this was a good idea because at the time I couldn't even identify a pair of pliers. However, I'm now an expert if anyone needs advice."

The eight-hour flight was nerve-wracking for Vivien who had never flown before.

The daring student heads off to Cardiff University in September, where she will study English language.

She raised £3,000 to pay for the trip.

"I would like to thank everyone who supported me, whether it was through sponsorship, baking cakes, swimming lengths or badgering people to buy things they didn't really want.

"I have had an amazing once in a lifetime experience and my memories will stay with me forever," Vivien added.